CHAPTER II. 



HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS, WITH GENERAL DESCRIPTION 

 OF TYPES OF EGGS. 



Vultures, (Otogyps, Gyps, Percnopteron, Gypaetus). Build a 

 large conspicuous nest of sticks ; sometimes many feet in width and 

 depth ; generally a huge solitary tree is chosen for the purpose, and the nest 

 is difficult to reach, indeed often nearly inaccessible. The usual number 

 of eggs laid in each nest is one ; two is the greatest number ever laid, 

 and that only by a few species ; so that a good collection of the eggs 

 of these birds requires a great deal of difficult climbing and perseverance. 

 Some kinds, the king vulture and the " roc," lay pure white eggs. 

 Of other kinds the eggs are more or less spotted, those of the " sca- 

 venger" and bearded vulture being often very richly coloured. The 

 great brown vulture (Vultur monacfius) only occurs here in the cold 

 weather, all the other vultures are permanent residents, some breeding 

 wherever they are found, others congregating at particular spots when 

 the time for nest building arrives. 



Falcons, (Falco.) Of the eight species of true falcons which 

 are found in India, only three are known to breed here ; the rest are cold 

 weather visitants migrating- to north and west in the summer. Of the 

 three which remain, one, the laggar falcon ( F. juggur) is found in dry 

 plains ; the two others, the " shahin" (F. perigrinator) and the black 

 cap falcon (F. atriceps) affect wooded and rugged country. The nest, 

 though large, is generally well concealed. From three to six eggs are 

 laid, which are always well marked, sometimes very richly coloured. 



Hobbles, (Hypotriorchis). Nothing is known of their breeding 

 in this country. The European hobby [(H. subbuteo) is a rather rare 

 winter visitant. The Indian hobby (H. severus) is a permanent resident 

 in the eastern Himalayas, where its nest will probably be found in 

 high trees in forest tracts. 



Merlins, (Lithofalco). The merlin of Europe (L. esalon] is a 

 rare cold weather visitant. The red-headed merlin (L. chicquera) is very 

 common, it is a permanent resident, and chiefly found in mango groves. 

 The nests are well concealed in thick foliage, and the eggs are of the 

 same type as those of the true falcons. 



