246 
twice taken single eggs out of nests, and ten or twelve days 
later, on re-examining the same nests, in consequence of obser- 
ving the birds still hanging about the place, found that a couple 
more eggs had been laid since my last visit. 
Typically the eggs of this species are a rather broad oval, 
but a good deal of variation both in size and shape occurs. I 
have one or two very long and one very broad pyriform egg, 
but these are exceptions. The colour is greyish white, and 
every specimen that I have yet seen (and some fifty have 
passed through my hands) has been absolutely unspotted. No 
doubt, as incubation proceeds, like most other Hagles’ eggs, they 
become much soiled and stained with dingy yellow, but none 
have exhibited any trace of the markings shewn in Dr. Bree’s 
figures. As far as size goes, his figure pretty correctly repre- 
site an average specimen, but fully half are a good deal — 
arger. 
The eggs of this species can, I think, generally be separated 
from those of almost all our other Indian Hagles, except 
those of P. Ichthyaetus, by the intensely dark green of the shell 
when held against the light. If it is possible to separate any 
of our Hagle’s eggs by the texture. I should say, that as a rule, 
there is generally a certain smoothness in the feel of these eggs, 
which distinguishes them from those of other species ; but this is 
by no means an invariable test. 
The eggs vary from 2°55 to 3 in length, and from 2°02 to 
2°27 in breadth, but the average of 26 eggs measured was 2°77 
M2 48: 
It does not do to dogmatize about the habits of birds. I 
have examined fully fifty nests of this species, some containing 
egos, and some young ones, and were I to trust to my own 
personal experience alone, I should certainly assert that the 
old birds never show the least fight in defence of their homes 
and progeny. Nevertheless one of our most accurate observers 
certifies to their excessive pugnacity when they have young: 
Captain Hutton in the J. A. S. remarks :— 
“T notice this species, because Captain Tickell states, that it 
never makes the slightest attempt at defending its nest, a 
striking contrast to the marvellous tales we read of, concerning 
the Golden Hagle in the Highlands of Scotland, &e. ‘This 
remark is correct only, so long as there are eggs in the nest, for 
no sooner are these hatched, than the temper of the bird 
becomes wholly changed, and it will then defendits young 
with fierceness and determination. The nests 1 have repeat- 
edly found, and robbed, both on the banks of the Ganges, and 
of the Sutledge, and in all cases where they contained only 
