Birds of Lucknow. 69 



and there with solitary pepul or banian trees. A few years 

 ago some Martiniere boys brought me the claws of an 

 individual of this species,, which they had killed on their 

 cricket-ground. Major Newnham, I.S.O., shot a magnificent 

 specimen of the bird on the Bangla Bazar Tank, and since 

 then has noticed it fairly often. According to Reid, he has 



found it on "the dry beds of j heels, devouring crabs 



and on one or two occasions eating carrion." 



No. 1202. Aquila bifasciata. Steppe-Eagle. 



The Bifasciated or Steppe-Eagle is not very common. Reid 

 shot a male on January 1st feeding on the carcase of a sheep, 

 so that it is a carrion-eater like A. Jieliaca, an example of 

 which was also shot when engaged on a similar repast. My 

 experience of Eagles forces me to the conclusion that the 

 majority are anything but the "noble" birds described in 

 song and fable. Bonelli's and the Dwarf Eagle are sporting 

 gentlemen, but many of the bigger kinds are little better 

 than Vultures. One of these Eagles was captured alive 

 on a maida.n close to the College by a little native boy, 

 who found it disabled. 



These two species are apparently cold-weather visitors 

 only. 



Xo. 1203. Aquila vjndhiana. Indian Tawny Eagle. 



Wokhab, Ragar, Baz [H.]. Lugger [Martiniere boys]. 



By far our commonest Eagle, and, of course, a permanent 

 resident. It is to be seen almost anywhere, and a pair 

 reared a young bird at the top of a "cork "-tree, not 200 

 yards from the United Service Club. I have found the 

 nest on several occasions. It is a large structure of sticks, 

 lined with grass or straw and a few feathers or leaves, and 

 placed at the very top of some high tree. Unlike Milvus 

 govinda, this Eagle rarely chooses a thick fork, but prefers the 

 smaller branches at the summit. It is fond of babool-trees. 

 The eggs are two in number, but usually only one is hatched. 

 Most are to he found in December and January, but they 

 have been brought to me as late as the loth of May. 

 On two occasions only have I found eggs myself, at other 



