THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 391 



Poliaetus ichthycetus in a most interesting article in this journal 

 (Vol. IX, p. 478), says that he " can state positively " that " the outer 

 toe of these fishing eagles is reversible like that of the Osprey." I 

 have myself examined the feet of P. ichthycetus and P. humilis (vel 

 plumbus) and undoubtedly in both these the outer toe is reversible, 

 though I do not think I should have said " like that of the Osprey," 

 for, whereas the normal position of the outer toe of the Osprey is point- 

 ing backwards with the hullux, the normal position of the same toe 

 in the fishing eagles is pointing forwards with the second and third 

 toes, but it appears to be reversible at will when required to give 

 additional power in grasping. 



A very interesting feature in the leg of the Osprey is the curious 

 spinal development of the scales at the back of the tarsus next the 

 joint. The use of these rough projections may be seen at once if the 

 bird is watched in the act of carrying off a fish. In grasping the first 

 and fourth toes are considerably separated and when the prey is 

 drawn up close to the body it is pressed against the tarsus which fits 

 in between the toes and so forms no inconsiderable addition to the pur- 

 chase obtained. Again the beauty of the arrangement is still further 

 enhanced when it is noticed that it is the upper edge of the scales 

 which are thus prolonged ; if it were the lower edges which formed the 

 spines, every time the bird seized a fish and contracted its leg until these 

 were brought into play the expanding again would force out the scales 

 and so cause the bird pain if not actual injury. As it is, Nature has so 

 ordained that contraction and expansion force in and release these 

 spines at such an angle that there can be no way by which they can be 

 caught in the flesh of the object held. 



Family Vulturidce. 



(502) Vultue monaechus. — The Cinereus Vulture. 



Hume, No. 1; Blanford, No. 1190. 



I believe that a nest from which, for two years running, I obtained 

 eggs, is the only one recorded found actually within Indian limits. 

 Near the village of Hungrum and overhanging the Jiri Valley, there 

 is a lofty hill, something over 6,000 feet high, the north-eastern side 

 of which runs almost sheer down into the valley below. The greater 

 part of this is covered with dense, but rather stunted, evergreen forest 

 interspersed with wide bare patches where slips have occurred, or 



