Ci) 
Foliage with flakes of verdant leafage grew 
The deodar, magnificent and fair. 
The hush of silence o’er the mountain fell, 
The only sounds, the breezes gentle sigh 
Stirring the topmost boughs, a distant bell 
Striking the hour from Teera, and the cry, 
Of lonely lammergeier, I know not why 
The memory of that day comes o’er me like a spell. 
The next family is the Falconwle, which represents a variety of 
Birds of Prey. 
Il. Famitry FALCONIDAj 
These birds have short, compressed bills, the tip is long, curved 
and sharp, upper mandible toothed or festooned ; legs and feet 
strong, with sharp well curved claws ; the eyes are large, protected 
by projecting, horny eyebrows, giving these birds an extremely 
powerful out-look. Falconiiw contain the remaining diurnal birds 
of prey ; Hawks, Eagles and Kites. They feed on birds, reptiles, 
fish, insects and smaller mammals. When resting on a perch, their 
erect bearing is most marked, and seem to stand with shoulders 
thrown back, as it were. They seldom or ever alight on the ground, 
save, perhaps in their hunt after a reptile, or some other prey, but 
rarely to rest. When feeding they remove, the hair or feathers, and 
other indigestible portions, before eating their prey, nevertheless any 
portions left undigested are emitted in the form of round pellets. 
These dryish looking pellets are often found on the ground, below 
big trees, where the birds habitually resort, after securing their prey. 
The cry of Falconide is a prolonged whistle, shrill and plaintive. 
Falcons are comparatively small in size measuring about 15” to 19”. 
They have long pointed wings, which reach to the tip of the tail ; 
a dark cheek stripe is generally noticeable. The Lanners and Lag- 
gers are found in this group; the darker Hobbies, and lighter 
coloured Merlins, and small sized, Kestrel. 
SuUB-FAMILY: TRUE FALCONS 
These are interesting birds, more so perhaps, as they are readily 
trained to hunt, chiefly, game birds. This sport of the middle ages 
in Europe was largely indulged in, in India usually under royal 
patronage, when well trained falcons exhibited not a little strength, 
daring and skill. Now and then you come across this old time 
honored, pastime, where these falcons are still used for this purpose, 
in secluded states; but even here, one is pleased to note that this 
