196 THE FOOD OP BIRDS IN INDIA. 



ACCIPITKES. 



This Order comprises the Ospreys, Vultures, Eagles, Kites, 

 Buzzards, Falcons and Hawks. 



' Some live chiefly on living animals they catch, others content 

 themselves with such animals as they find dead. Some of the most 

 typical groups are spread all over the world, but there are many 

 peculiar to the warmer regions, where there is a greater abundance 

 of animal life, and especially a great increase in the numbers of rep- 

 tiles and insects ; and those also that are fitted for devouring carcases 

 which putrify so soon as in warm climates, are only developed in 

 these countries, and here multiply numerically to a larger extent 

 than any of the others/' Jerd. B. I. I. 2. 



Birds of prey being essentially carnivorous, are in most cases ex- 

 tremely useful, either as scavengers, or in destroying small mammals* 

 insects, and diseased or sickly birds. Some feed largely on frogs and 

 lizards and are therefore possibly injurious, as also the fish-eating 

 varieties. At times too some considerable damage is caused by 

 taking poultry and even young domestic animals. 



PANDIONID^E. 



1189. Pandion haliaetus. Os prey. 



j A winter visitor feeding on fish, Imp. Gaz. I., 252. " Fish/' 

 Jerd. B. I. I, 80. F. I. Ill, 314. Fish of all sizes up to its own 

 weight/' B. N. H. S. J. X, 459. Little but fish. E. B. C. N. H., 

 149. Surface swimming fish. E. B. C. N. H., 181. 



VULTURIDJE. 



' Useful." ' Devouring carcases of dead animals and other 

 offensive matter, which would otherwise in the hot regions of the 

 world tend to increase predisposition to disease. Jerd. B. I. I, 4. 

 Indispensably useful in a hot climate, feeding on carcases of dead 

 animals. 



1196. PswJidogyps bengalensis. Indian White-backed Vulture. 

 Carcases ; human bodies. I once shot two of these birds in order to 

 obtain some lice from them, but did not examine their stomach 



