516 JOURNAL. BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X. 



them handsomer birds (though rather less in size) and of more 

 respectable habits in general ; but differ widely between themselves 

 in ways and means. These are Pallas's Eagle, H, leucoryphus, and 

 the white-bellied Sea-eagle, H. leucogaster, Jerdon's " Ring-tailed " 

 and " Grey-backed" Sea-eagles. We shall use these names here, 

 because they indicate the marks by which the birds can be most readily 

 recognized on the wing. Both are, in our province, tree-nesters ; 

 and their Northern visitor might very easily find both at home, in an 

 hour's flight over the Indus. But, in the rest of our province, the 

 Rinc-tailed Eagle's chief hunting grounds are by fresh water, shallow 

 for choice, and the Grey-backed sticks to salt water ; often of as much 

 as ten fathoms near Bombay, much more where the shore is *' steep- 

 to." The Ring-tailed Eagle is partly a Paleearctic bird, ranging at 

 least to the Black Sea, and does not come as far south as Bombay ; 

 though common in North Gujarat. 



He lives chiefly by fishing ; but often strikes birds for himself, 

 especially Bald Coots, and " goes about stealing ducks " from the 

 fowler and falconer. The late Amir Ali Murad Khan, a good natura- 

 list in his fashion, hated these birds for scaring and sometimes killing 

 his hawks, like the Tawny and Bonolli's eagles. But they are not 

 accused of " striking fur " nor of foul-feeding ; nor of robbing the 

 Osprey. They are very bold, and in little fear of man, building near 

 towns, and even railway stations. 



The o-rey-backed sea-eagle is a bird of the Eastern tropics on both 

 sides of the line ; probably not ranging west beyond Baluchistan, if so 

 far • nor to any place north of the Himalaya. He seldom '' strikes 

 feather " probably never " far," but is not above carrion, at least of fish; 

 and is reported to rob the Osprey. But this does not seem to be his 

 habit near Bombay, where they are both common, but apparently 

 good neighbours. 



They are not afraid of the fishermen ; but dislike Europeans ; and 

 are apt to keep well out of range of small shot. The nest, though 

 often not far from villages, is not such a very public building as that 

 of the Rinc-tailed Eagle 5 and the bird himself, though by no means 

 silent or solitary, is not as sociable and conversational as his larger 

 relation. A family of Eing-tailod Eagles, coming home in the 

 evening, will let every one within a mile of them know of it. 



