ROUGH NOTES 
ON 
Andian Oology ant Ornithology. 
No. 41. Polioaetus Ichthyaetus. Horsr. 
Tue Hasrern Wurre Tarnep Hacur.* 
This species generally, I believe, lays in January ; but in the 
valleys of Kumaon and Gurhwal, where it is, I know, far from 
uncommon, it is said to lay as late as April. 
It builds, invariably, as far as I have yet observed, on large 
trees, situated on the bank of some river, or in the immediate 
proximity of some considerable piece of water. It constructs 
its own nest, returning like the Golden Kagle, year after year, 
to the same spot, and each year adding fresh materials, so that 
the nest, a very large one to begin with, grows in time to an 
enormous size, reminding one of Wilson’s descriptions of those 
of the Osprey. Stout sticks, and small branches mingled with 
twigs and grass roots, are the principal materials, but weeds 
and coarse grass help to fill up the interior, in which, as in the 
case of Bonelli’s Eagle and others, a thin layer of greent leaves 
* T am obliged to add the word “ Eastern” to the English name given 
by Dr. Jerdon, because the ‘‘ White Tailed” Eagle, or Sea Eagle, is the name 
by which a very different species, the European, H. Adbicilla, is universally 
nown. 
+ It is probable that the object of laying the eggs on green leaves, is to 
secure a certain amount of moisture for the shells. 
Eggs artificially hatched, have, we know, to be daily sponged with a 
moist cloth. Great numbers of birds leave their eggs for a short time about 
sunrise, to feed in grass and jungle, and return all ‘‘ dewy breasted” to 
their nests, so that I have taken Pea-fowls’ eggs, quite wet from this cause. 
But how is sufficient moisture secured for eggs laid, like those of the Sand- 
grouse, on the bare, absolutely dry sand, whose parents feed in the dryest 
ground, (never, even when they drink, wetting their feathers in the slightest) 
and return dry-breasted to their eggs ? 
