244 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



sea-eagle, H. leucogaster, will descend to meditate 

 among the trees overhanging a pond. In large 

 gardens which, like the Botanic Garden at Shibpur, 

 enjoy an exceptional immunity from crows, they 

 will often remain for some time, and may even 

 occasionally nest, but in other cases they are not 

 allowed a chance of doing so, for hardly have they 

 settled themselves down to gaze into the water, ere 

 some officious crow discovers their presence, and 

 vociferously summons its fellows to the spot. The 

 unwelcome visitor is presently surrounded by a 

 clamorous mob, that steadily grows, and gradually 

 presses in around him so long as he remains motion- 

 less, but disperses at once with shouts of execra- 

 tion on his slightest movement, only, however, to 

 gather anew and resume the congenial task of 

 annoyance. For a time the eagle may maintain 

 his position in dignified endurance, but sooner or 

 later his patience wears out, and he sails off to seek 

 a quieter resting-place. Both of these eagles are 

 magnificent birds, H. leucogaster, indeed, being one 

 of the most splendid of large raptorial birds, owing 

 to the brilliant contrast of the snowy whiteness of 

 the head and under-surface, with the deep ashy 

 tints of the wings and back. There are few more 

 striking objects than one of them as he sits on a 

 bare branch overhanging a tidal channel, glancing 

 around with his bold black eyes, and with all his 

 beautiful plumage gleaming in the bright sunlight. 



