The Common Birds of the Nilgiris 



is soaring high in the air on the watch for 

 carrion. 



The two commonest vultures of the Nilgiris 

 are the scavenger and the white-backed species. 



THE FALCONID^ OR FAMILY OF BIRDS 

 OF PREY 



The raptores are not very strongly repre- 

 sented on the Nilgiris. The only two eagles 

 likely to be seen are Bonelli's eagle (Hieraetus 

 fasciatus) and the black eagle (Jctinaetus 

 malayensis). The plumage of the latter is of 

 much darker hue than that of the former. 



Bonelli's eagle is a bold bird that works 

 great havoc among tame pigeons. It some- 

 times carries off a barnyard fowl. 



The black eagle is content with smaller 

 quarry : young birds, rats, and snakes, seem to 

 constitute the chief articles of its diet. 



Needless to state, the common pariah kite 

 (Milvus govin&a) is found on the Nilgiris. 

 This useful bird usually sails in graceful circles 

 high overhead, looking for food. Its cry is 

 not heard so frequently on those hills as in the 

 Himalayas, the reason being the different con- 

 figuration of the two ranges. The Nilgiris are 



undulating and downlike, hence the kites are 

 22^5 



