AND IN PARTS OF WYNAAD AND SOUTHERN MYSORE. 357 
39bis. —Spilornis melanotis, Jerd. The Southern 
Indian Harrier-Eagle. 
Neither this nor the former species occurs on the higher 
ortions of the Nilghiris; but I have on two occasions seen a 
Harrie? Bacle at Coonoor, but too far off to identify the species; 
they were probably of the present, and not the preceding 
species. The present species I have seen but seldom on the 
lower portion of the slopes, but it is not uncommon at 
the foot of the hills and through the Wynaad. Its habits 
and note are the same as those of the other species of the 
genus, perching, by preference, on some huge dead tree from 
whence it can see over the surrounding country fora long 
distance. It preys on lizards, snakes, and, as I found, on small 
land tortoises as well. When seated, it is as a rule silent; 
oceasionally as it takes flight it utters its wild plaintive note, 
but it is when circling far overhead that its cry is most 
frequently heard. I have usually found them singly, occa- 
sionally in pairs, and once I saw four together circling high 
in the air. It sometimes eats its prey on the ground where 
it has seized it instead of carrying it away to some neighbour- 
ing tree. 
The following are the dimensions, &c., of two fine adult 
females shot in the Wynaad :-— 
No. 1, female ad: Nellacotta, 3Cth of March 1881.—Length, 
24:2; expanse, 48:5; tail, 11:0; wing, 15°6; tarsus, 3-6; bill 
from gape, 1:75; weight, 2°25 Ibs. 
No. 2, female ad: Nellacotta, 28th March 1881.—Length, 
24'5 ; expanse, 54; tail, 110; wing, 15:4; tarsus, 3-45; bill 
from gape, 18; weight, 2°12]bs. Facial skin, legs, and feet 
chrome yellow; irides bright yellow; Dill plumbeous ; tip of 
lower mandible, and apical half of upper mandible, dull black. 
No. 1 has the ear-coverts and sides of face behind the eve 
and the throat almost black. The upper breast is a very dark 
brown, gradually paling towards the abdomen. The feathers — 
of the upper and lower breast are fringed paler owing to the 
abrasion of the ends of the feathers. There is absolutely no 
trace of barring anywhere on the lower surface. 
No. 2 has the sides of the face and ear-coverts blackish 
brown, but the throat is unicolorous with the breast, which is 
somewhat of a lighter shade than in No.1. On the abdomen 
there are a very few indistinct traces of cross barring on 
the feathers, but otherwise the lower surface is unbarred. 
Both these specimens were sexed by myself, and I am per- 
fectly sure that both were females. In No. 2 the ovaries were 
well developed, the largest egg being nearly the size of 
walnut. 
43 
