Birds of Lucknow. 73 



snakes, rats, frogs, crabs, turtles — anything-, in fact, but fishes, 

 unless, of course, it can get them without much trouble. I 

 may be hard on this otherwise magnificent Eagle, but, if so, 

 it is because I have had ample opportunities of gauging his 

 capabilities." 



My friend Mr. Edgar Hill, of the Court of Wards, wrote 

 to protest against this slanderous attack on the Chatangal's 

 character, but, nevertheless, I fear that Reid's statement 

 was not far from the truth. 



I fancy that the Fishing-Eagle pairs for life. The nest is 

 a huge structure of sticks, placed in some lofty solitary 

 pepul or mango, not far from water. Though I have 

 often seen the fabrics, I have only twice searched them. 

 One was empty, but the three eggs were brought me ten 

 days afterwards, on Nov. 23rd, 1896. The other I took on 

 Nov. 20th, 1898, when it contained four eggs. Reid, who 

 took several nests, never got eggs after November, but my 

 friend Mr. P. S. Lucas found a pair in January. From the 

 end of October to the beginning of December is the most 

 likely period to get them. The size of my second nest can 

 be imagined, when I remark that the native climber sat in 

 the nest— it was built on the branch, not in a fork — and 

 lowered the contents. I have never known these birds 

 shew any signs of fight when I went near their nests, but 

 the late Captain Hutton told a different story concerning a 

 pair with young. 



Average of 5 Lucknow eggs 2*87" x 2-21" 



Measurement of largest egg 3-05" x 2'21" 



„ smallest egg 2-72"x2'18" 



No. 1226. Polioaetus ichtiiyaetus. Large Grey-headed 

 Fishing-Eagle. 



Reid came across this bird on two or three occasions. 

 According to him, it occurs now and then, during the cold 

 weather, on the large jhecls, and more frequently on the big 

 rivers. An adult $ , stuffed by Reid, is in the Museum. 



No. 1227. Polioaetus humilis. 1 loth/son's Fishing-Eagle. 



An exceedingly rare cold-weather visitor. The only 



