AQUILINE. 69 



appearance at certain spots In the district it frequents, always about 

 the same hour. It may often be seen seated on the summit of a 

 lofty tree, or on some over-hanging rock. 



It preys by preference on various kinds of game, hares, jungle 

 fowl, spur-fowl, and partridges, and even on pea-fowl ; also on 

 ducks, herons, and other water-fowl, and, according to the testimony 

 of Shikarees, it has been known to strike down the douk (Tan- 

 talus leucocephalus). Most Native falconers, too, have stories to 

 relate of its having carried off a favorite hawk. On one occasion, 

 on the Neilgherries, I observed one stoop successively at a spur-fowl, 

 a hare, and a pea-fowl, each time unsuccessfully, however, owing 

 to the thickness of the jungle. A pair were also wont to resort 

 regularly to a village on the hills and carry off fowls. Mr. Elliot, 

 too, mentions" that he once saw a pair of them nearly surprise a 

 peacock, pouncing on him on the ground." Great havoc was 

 committed nmong several pigeon-houses on the Neilgherries in 

 1840-1841, by a pair of these Eagles, and I heard that one or two 

 were completely devastated by them. The manner in which they 

 captured the pigeons was described to me by two or three eye- 

 witnesses to be as follows : — On the pigeons taking flight, one of 

 the Eagles pounced down from a vast height on the flock, but 

 directing its swoop rather under the pigeons, than directly at them. 

 Its mate, watching the moment when, alarmed by the first swoop^ 

 the pigeons rose in confusion, pounced unerringly on one of them, 

 and carried it off, and the other Eagle having risen again, also 

 makes another, and, this time, a fatal stoop. One of these Eagles, 

 shot in the act, was presented to me by a gentleman, who had been 

 a great sufferer by them. 



The Mhorungi breeds on high rocky cliffs. I am acquainted with 

 the site of one eyrie on the eastern slope of the Neilgherries; but 

 at the time I paid it a visit the young birds had flown. It was on a 

 broad ledge of rock, not more than 20 feet from the top of the 

 chff, and could have easily been visited with the aid of a rope, I 

 have very little doubt that this Eagle could be trained to kill 

 hares, antelopes, fawns, and probably bustards also, and if so would 

 afford magnificent sport. 



