476 NOTES, CHIEFLY OOLOGICAL, 



circled overhead a few times, and eventually settled on a tree 

 a short distance away. Before the nest was taken she attacked 

 and drqve away a Crow ( C. macrorhynchus.) 



35 fo's.-Spizaetus ceylonensis, Gm. 



February, March, April. — Four nests of this Hawk-Eagle 

 were built in large trees in open jungle, in positions from which 

 a good look-out was obtainable. They were at heights above 

 the ground varying from thirty to forty feet, and in upright 

 forks formed by the main branches, or among the smaller 

 branches nearer the top of the tree. They were constructed 

 of substantial sticks and twigs, with a lining of green or dead 

 leaves — green ones in the case of newly-built nests— and were 

 from two feet nine inches to three feet in external diameter, 

 rather flat, and so thin that all but the lined saucer-like egg- 

 cavity could be seen through. Two nests contained one fresh 

 e && a piece, and another (in April) a nestling with the first wing 

 feathers just appearing. 



The egg* measure 2 - 72 by 2*02 inches, and 2"46 by 

 176 inches, and are rough and glossless ovals, slightly 

 pointed at the large end. The colour is a very pale bluish -green, 

 in one all but white, with numerous light reddish-brown specks 

 and scratches, almost entirely confined to the obtuse quarter 

 of the shell. 



The larger eggs belonged to a bird agreeing well with Cap- 

 tain Ledge's " dark form, three or four years old •' ; the other 

 to a smaller bird, intermediate between that and the "light 

 form." The birds sit very close, and only left the nests when 

 the men, whom I sent up, were within a few feet of them. 



56.— Milvus govinda, Sykes. 



December, January, February, July {young), November; but 

 chiefly in the first three months. — The building of the nests 

 occupies almost exactly three weeks — the first being devoted to 

 laying the sticks, the second to plastering the interior with mud 

 or clay (which seems to be the universal rule here, to judge by 

 some thirty nests that have been examined for me), the third 

 to collecting the lining of leaves, grass, and especially bits of 

 rag. Palmyra trees near villages, and sometimes overhanging 

 the houses, are the favorite site, but other tall trees in the 

 jungle are also chosen. From one to three eggs are laid. 



104.— Dendrochelidon coronatus, Tick. 



March to October. — The nests resemble those of Indian birds ; 

 when feathers are employed they are the bird's own : evidently 

 it considers that Crested Swift's feathers are too valuable to be 

 wasted. I failed to notice that they are used systematically, 



