682 MR. A. ANDERSON ON THE [Nov. 21, 



The only tree for a mile round was a gigantic solitary mango ; and 

 no sooner had I sent my man up the tree than the little Falcon flew 

 straight to her nest, quite prepared to hold her ground. The nest 

 contained two fresh eggs ; but one of them had a largish hole on one 

 side, exactly like what would be made by the beak of a bird ; and 

 through this aperture I blew the specimen. I imagine the Too- 

 rumtee had done this from anger when it saw that the nest was 

 about to be robbed. 



During the breeding-season I have several times observed the 

 male and female feeding together in the most affectionate manner. 



I think they must hunt in pairs in a wild state ; and hence pro- 

 bably the native idea of training them to take the so-called Jay 

 (Coracias indica) in that manner. 



17. Tinnunculus alaudarius, Briss. (The Kestrel.) 



The most common migratory Falcon in the country, arriving in 

 October, and leaving again by the middle of April. It does not 

 breed in the plains. 



23. Micronisus badius, Gmel. (The Shikra.) 



Common, and builds during April and May. Dr. Jerdon could 

 never have seen the eggs of this Hawk, or he would not have de- 

 scribed them as " much blotched with reddish brown"*. I, for one, 

 have never seen eggs of this bird with any markings at all ; and in 

 this respect the Shikra has its affinities with the Goshawk, and not 

 with the true Sparrow-Hawks. 



The Shikra is a great favourite with native falconers ; and few of 

 them can afford to keep more expensive Hawks. It is generally 

 trained to take the different kinds of Minas (Sturnus contra, Acri- 

 dotheres tristis, A. ginginianus, and Temenuchus pagodarum) ; I 

 have lately seen a young bird, certainly under six months old, catch 

 as many as six in a morning ; and it has also been trained to take 

 the small Crow (Corvus splendens). 



24. Accipiter nisus, Linn. (The Sparrow-Hawk.) 



I found this a rare bird, which is clearly shown by my getting 

 only one specimen, a young male. On three or four occasions I saw 

 what appeared to be Sparrow-Hawks ; but I cannot speak with any 

 certainty as to their identity, as they were fearfully wild, not allow- 

 ing me within a hundred yards or so. 



27. AauiLA imperialis, Bechst. (The Imperial Eagle.) 

 Visits the plains in great numbers during the cold- weather months, 

 leaving again early in April for its breeding-haunts. I have met with 

 this fine bird in all localities ; but it is very partial to large plains 

 early in the season, where it may be seen seated on a low bough of 

 the babool tree. As the season advances, it affects j heels and swamps, 

 preying on Ducks &c. It is no exaggeration to say that I have seen 

 a dozen of them in a large plain in the course of a morning. 

 * Birds of India, vol. i. p. 50. 



