248 FIRST LIST OF THE BIRDS OF 



The bird shot on the 1st April was incubating. The nest 

 was on a Bael (JEgle marmelos) tree, and within 4 feet of the 

 outer end of one of the primary branches which grew out 

 perfectly horizontally, and about 15 feet off the ground. She 

 flew off the nest and settled on a le Bombax" tree close by, when 

 I knocked her over ; nest of twigs of sizes with a lining of 

 fresh Bael leaves, one very hard set egg. Found a frog in the 

 gullet of this bird. Their principal food, however, is snakes. 

 One day I watched a bird finishing a snake, two feet long, in five 

 minutes. They commence at the head and go on tearing and 

 swallowing until all is done. They are very fearless birds, 

 allowing one to pass within twenty feet of them when sitting on 

 the ground with snakes in their claws. On one occasion, when out 

 Snipe-shooting, one of these birds stooped at a wounded Snipe but 

 missed it. They are permanent residents. Their cry has a 

 mournful sound ; and, although not very loud, can be heard 

 when the bird is flying high over head. 



40.**— Pandion haliaetus, Lim 



I have repeatedly seen a "White-headed Fishing Hawk, 

 somewhat smaller than P. iclithyatus, but it was so wary that 

 I could not get near enough to risk a shot ; it was generally to 

 be seen sitting on a dead branch high up on some gigantic 

 tree overlooking a " beel" or river ; it could have been no other 

 bird but this. 



41.— Polioaetus ichthyaetus, Horsf. 



20th March 1878, Male.— Length, 26*25; expanse, 61'0; 

 wing, 17'62 ; tail from vent, 10"75 ; tarsus, 3*33 ; bill from 

 gape, 2*0 ; bill at front including cere, 1*89 ; closed wings fall 

 short of end of tail, 2'42. Irides brown ; bill and cere blackish ; 

 legs dirty grey ; claws black. 



On the 12th March I saw one of these birds sitting near a 

 couple of nests which were high up on a Kuddum tree in a ryot's 

 holding, and overlooking a large u beel." The ryot told me the 

 young had flown by the beginning of February, and that the 

 eggs are laid in the latter end of November. On my asking if 

 the two nests belonged to two pairs, he said no ; but that while 

 one bird sat on the egg in one nest, the other bird occupied the 

 empty nest. It is a permanent resident and rather common. 

 My specimen was shot while devouring a fish (OpMocephalus 

 $triatus) in the factory compound. These birds are very fond of 

 sitting on the stakes which are found in every u beel" here, and 

 allow of a much nearer approach than the next species. I 

 have never heard them calling. 



