MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 397 



the top of the tree and remonstrated to some time. On the 12th January 

 I obtained 3 more fresh eggs from a uest, situated very high up among the 

 leaves of a mango tree, one of a tope. The nest was taken with some difficulty, 

 as for about 20 feet from the ground the tree was branchless ; consequently, 

 a rope had to be requisitioned. This nest was discovered simply through the 

 fussiness and noise of the birds when building, though they w^ere quite silent 

 while it was being taken. 



BONELLis or THE Crestless Hawk Eagle {Niscetus fasciatus). — On the 

 14th January, I was fortunate enough to come on another nest of this species 

 in the Sholapur District. It was an enormous structure of sticks, placed at 

 the very top of a lofty tree and visible from a considerable distance. It has 

 probably been used as a nursery for many years. I got a boy to climb the 

 tree after some difficulty, during which operation the female vacated it and 

 took up her position on an adjacent one. I was not sure of the species, so 

 intended shooting her if the nest contained eggs, but she defeated me by 

 betaking herself off before this had been settled. The nest contained two 

 hard-set eggs, one of which I managed to clean by the " water system.'' While 

 the boy was descending the tree, I heard a rushing of wings and, look- 

 ing round, saw the male coming out of space at a treinenrJous pace, like a bolt 

 from the blue, straight for the nest. It seemed very cruel, but I had to shoot 

 him to identify the species. I hit him hard which stopped him, he turned, 

 reeling as he flew, went a few hundred yards, wheeled, and then fell dead — a 

 truly glorious bird. I hope to visit the spot agaia next year and am 

 curious as to whether the nest will be re-occupied. 



The Black-winghd Kite {^Elanus ecerideus). — Though I have been at 

 Poona three years, until the present year I have hardly seen any of these 

 birds. Of late, they seem to be far more common. They apparently have a 

 penchant for open grass lands, studded with babul trees. It is a pretty 

 sight to watch them hovering in the air and then dropping, like a stone, on 

 to their prey or, when disappointed, moving off to repeat the process else- 

 where. Towards the end of December, I found a nest, built in the slender 

 branches of a thorny tree, about 20 feet from the ground. It was difficult to 

 get at owing to the thinness of the branches and unfortunately contained 

 young. The birds were very fussy, wheeling, and flying' round, uttering a low 

 whistle or squeal. They apparently haunt the nest with their young, after 

 these have once flown, as on visiting the spot later, I found them still loiter- 

 ing around. 



The Rock-horned Owl {Bubo bengalensis). — Though a fairly common bird 

 and found in most localities, I have only just obtained its eggs. I was out in 

 October near a large tank, where these birds had taken up their abode and 

 were to be seen at all hours. I hardly expected to find eggs so early, but on 

 searching the banks, I came on a nest containing 5 eggs, partially incubated, 

 and all in different stages. Date 18th October. There was no nest, but the 

 earth had been hollowed out and sifted, as it was \erv fine. The hen was 

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