S82 J OURNAL, BOMB AY NATURAL RIST. SOCIErY, Vol, XXIII. 



Occurs in North Lakhimpur fairly frequently ; one secured at Dejoo, 

 21-8-05, 2 • H^ requires no slight exercise of one's will power even if 

 blessed with a strong stomach to tackle the preservation of any vulture, 

 in particular if the thermometer is registering a high reading. The 

 amount of persuasion exercised and baksheesh promised for native assist- 

 ance makes it also a thankless task and some time has to elapse before the 

 skin is presentable for the cabinet. 



331. Ictina'etus malayensis, (Reinw). [1210]. — -The Black Eagle. 



Occurs at all events in the lower ranges of the hills on the north frontier, 

 but unknown even at the base of the hills or in the plains. A pair observed 

 beating over a bare ridge in the vicinity of Beni, Abor-Miri country in 

 February 1906 during a particular wet and cold month. In the Sikkim 

 hiUs it is about the least shy of all the larger accipitrine birds and is by 

 no means restricted to forest as it may often be noted leisurely foraging 

 over the sparsely wooded gullies and cultivated slopes, almost invariably 

 in pairs. 



332. Spizaetus nipalensis (Hodgs.) [1218]. — Hodgson's Hawk-Eagle. 

 Chota Tingrai, Tinsukia (Plains), 15-2-04*, Dejoo, North Lakhimpur 



(base of hills), left bank Runganuddie, 30-11-08, S ; Silonibari, North Lak- 

 himpur, 7-6-11.* Both in morning and in the afternoon I had a good view 

 of this fine Eagle ; breast feathers heavily blotched. A pair of crows (C mac- 

 rorhynclms) kept it in close attendance to its evident annoyance. 



These records constitute the whole data available. It also occurs 

 around Margherita. Dr. Falkiner had a live specimen at Panitola for 

 several years obtained when a youngster from this latter locality. 



333. Spilornis cheela rutherfordi, Swinh. [1217]. — The Burmese Crested 



Serpent-Eagle. 



Spilornis cheela, Blanford, F. B. I., Vol. iii., p. 367. 



Common throughout the plains, a familiar object of bird life in the 

 landscape, not confined to any particular class of country excepting deep 

 forest, appears almost oblivious to its surroundings when seated on a tree 

 stump or naked branches of an isolated tree. 



irt>Rungagora, 9-3-02, § , in very pale, almost white plumage ; R. Dibru, 

 Rungagora, 16-3-03, S , in normal dark plumage ; North Lakhimpur, 8-8-04, 

 2, in normal dark plumage; Derpai, 16-3-06, $, in normal dark 

 plumage ; Dejoo, 14-8-08, d , throat pure white ; breast white faintly streaked 

 with dark centre lines ; abdomen pale ; crown and nape white, each feather 

 with a dark bar. Dejoo. 2-10-08, S , in normal dark plumage ; 11-08 sex ? 

 very pale plumage ; breast white almost devoid of markings ; crown, nape 

 and throat white streaked in places. 



Dejoo, 31-8-08, d ; 18-9-08, ?, 2-10-08, 9 ; 15-10-08, J ; 31-10-08, $; all 

 in normal dark plumage. 



334. Butastur teesa (Franklin) ? [1220].— The White-eyed Buzzard-Eagle. 

 These two records undoubtedly refer to a Buzzard-Eagle as no specimens 



have been secured : the species cannot be determined beyond all doubt. I 

 have been mistaken on many occasions in being led to believe immature 

 specimens of Haliastur indus weve Butastur s^^. until the bird was actually 

 in my hand. 



Dejoo, 8-10-10 *, 12-5-08*, similar to a Kestrel in its movements though 

 more laboured, eventually soared up to a great altitude and was lost to view. 



335. Haliaetus leucorypha (Pall.) [1223]. — Pallas's Fishing-Eagle. 



The common Eagle on the banks of all the large rivers, the Bramapootra 

 i» particular and on various large sheets of water "bhils " throughout the 



