THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 395 



I have taken these birds as nestlings and brought them up, when 

 they have evinced considerable affection and, though always at large, 

 never flew away for more than an hour or so. They very soon 

 learnt to come when called, and would follow me about my garden 

 stalking along in a most grave and sedate manner a yard or two 

 behind me. They ate worms, caterpillars, grasshoppers or any other 

 small odds and ends in the insect line which I offered them. Amongst 

 other delicacies for which they showed more than ordinary greediness 

 were the large, fat, white grubs of the stag-beetles. These larvae used 

 to get into the roots and the lower parts of the trunks of the orange 

 trees, whioh died in a very short time if not relieved from their 

 unwelcome visitors. The eagles used to watch me extracting 

 these with the greatest interest, their heads on one side and their 

 beautiful eyes watching every movement of my fingers. When they 

 were at last extracted their excitement was intense, they raised and 

 lowered their crests rapidly and gave vent to hoarse croaks of im- 

 patience. They never utter their wild screaming cry except when 

 circling round and round high up in the air. Their sight was most 

 wonderfully keen, and though they were quite invisible to me they 

 would often discover my approach and pay me sudden visits on the 

 road when I was returning to headquarters from camp. They would 

 never follow me more than three or four miles from Gunjong, and 

 never ventured after me on foot excerpt in immediate vicinity of the 

 house. 



They never attempted to molest any of my other pets, and at night 

 retired to roost in perfect amity with the fowls or occasionally with a 

 number of the Eastern red -footed kestrel (T. amurensis) who lived in 

 a large aviary by themselves. The kestrel did not, however, care for 

 the companionship of the eagles, and it was only under pressure that the 

 eagles visited them. They were very early risers, the first glimmer of 

 dawn seeing them on the wing, and also retired very early to bed, being 

 asleep in the fowl-house some time before the last of the fowls went 

 to roost. 



In North Cachar Spilornis chiela seems to breed earlier than in most 

 places, as few eggs are to be found after the middle of March. Their 

 nests are sometimes placed far in the interior of forest and a long way 

 from water, but more often they build them on trees on the banks of 



