THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 397 



(516) Poliaetus humilis. — Hodgson's Fishing Eagle. 

 Hume, Nos. 41 bis and 41 ter; Blanford, No. 1227. 

 Very common on all the larger streams throughout these hills, but less 

 so on the lower reaches and but seldom seen on the plains. These birds 

 often rob the fishing basket-traps iof the Cacharies, whenever these are 

 partly exposed above water. With their strong beaks and claws they tear 

 open the bamboo fastenings and, thrusting their heads into the aperture so 

 made, steal the contents. They breed principally in February and March 

 in the same manner as the last bird but in less exposed situations, some- 

 times a good distance from the stream and well inside the forest. 

 (517) Haliastur indus. — The Brahminy Kite. 

 Hume r No. 55 ; Blanford, No. 1228. 

 As a rule extend only a very short way up the bigger rivers into the 

 hills, but is of course very common in the plains. It is a very notice- 

 able fact that both this kite and Milrus govinda have increased very 

 considerably in numbers as -the Assam-Bengal -Railway has* advanced 

 into the hills and brought large numbers of coolies into the district. Of 

 late I have several times noticed Brahminy Kites hovering about over 

 these hills, at some height over 2,000 feet, whereas in former days it was 

 but seldom they were seen over 500 feet or so. All the birds I have 

 examined have been young birds, still with many brown feathers about 

 them. They do not wander any distance from the line itself, but haunt 

 the Patban camps where offal is nearly always plentiful. 



I have taken five eggs from a nest of this species once, and more 

 than once have taken four. 



(518) Milvus govinda. — The Common Pariah Kite. 

 Hume, Nos. 50 and 56 ter ; Blanford, No. 1229. 

 In the hills and higher extensive forests is- to a great extent replaced 

 by the next speeies. 



Five years ago it used to be quite an unusual sight to see M. govinda 

 in these hills, but now all along the railway line every camp is fre- 

 quented by at least a pair of these kites, and at Haflang some three or 

 four pairs have commenced to breed. 



(519) Milvto melanotis. — The Large Indian Kite. 

 Hume, No. 50 bis; Blanford, No. 1230. 

 This kite is fairly common in all the wilder parts of the district,, 

 especially in the mountainous portions. I once shot a gaur at a place 



