58 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Length of a female 33 to 35 inches ; extent 7^ feet ; wing 29 

 inches ; tail 13 ; tarsus 4 ; mid toe and claw 3^'^^ ; bill at gape 2| ; 

 height 1|. 



A male measured 30 inches ; extent 6 feet ; wing 24 inches ; tail 

 12; tarsus 3^; m'd toe 3|-. 



The bill is proportionally longer and weaker than in Chrysaetos, 

 the tarsus is feebler, and the toes and claws much smaller ; the wings 

 reach to the end of the tail, or almost surpass it ; the nostrils are 

 oval and somewhat oblique. 



The Imperial Eagle is rare in the South of India, but not un- 

 common in the Table land, and in Central India, and is also foimd 

 throughout the Himalayas. It prefers the neighbourhood of hills, 

 and the bare open country, or thin and low jungle. It may fre- 

 quently be seen seated on the ground, or on a stone on the top of 

 a low hill, till an hour or two after sunrise, when it rises, apparently 

 unwillingly, and takes a quest after game at no great elevation, 

 hunting slowly over the bushy valleys and ravines, and occasion- 

 ally over cultivated ground. If unsuccessful in its search, it re-seats 

 itself, and after an interval again takes wing, and this time 

 soars to a great height, circling slowly in the air, and traversing a 

 large extent of country. It pounces on hares, florikins, rats, lizards, 

 and various other mammals and birds, and in default of these, 

 will eat carrion. I have several times seen one captured in a net 

 by a portion of the carcase of a sheep being put down as bait. 

 "When it does condescend to partake of carrion, it allows no other 

 bird to approach till it has satisfied its hunger. 



I have seen this Eagle's nest in a lofty tree in the Deccan. The 

 egg is reddish white, with some red blotches and spots. One is 

 figured in the first volume of the ' Ibis.' 



I kept one alive at Jalna for some time. It was very 

 tame, and appeared to prefer raw meat to any other kind of 

 food, even to birds or animals, living or dead. It was very 

 sluggish and inactive, even when urged by hunger ; the only cry 

 I heard it utter was a harsh croak. It used to drink a gulp or two 

 of water after eating. Out of India, it is found in the South of 

 Europe, North Africa, and Western and Northern Asia. 



