76 I5IKDS OF INDIA. 



short, scutt'llute at the base of tlie claws, the jateial toes about 

 equal ; claws tolerably curved, rather short, of nearly equal lengtli. 

 The birds of tliis genus are chiefly African. They frequent the 

 open plains, are much on the wing, and live mostly on reptiles. 

 They make the nearest approach among the Eagles, both in struc- 

 ture and habits, to the Buzzards. 



38. Circaetus Gallicus, Gmel. 



Falco apud, Gmelin. — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 13 — Blyth, 

 Cat. 85 — HoRSF., Cat. 63 — G. brachydactylus, Meyku — Sykes. 

 Cat. 6 — .Ikkdox, Cat. 13 — Sampmar, H. — Sapmaril, — Beng. 

 Malpaiar, Can. — Pamula gedda, Tel. — Parnhu prandu, Tam. — Rawal 

 of tlie Wagrees — Kondatele, of the Yerklees. 



The Common Sekpent Eagle. 



Descr. — Young, head and nape whitish, the feathers brown 

 streaked ; back and wings pale earthy brown, lightest on the wing 

 coverts ; quilh dusky black ; tail pale ashy brown, with darker 

 bands, and the inner webs almost white ; beneath, chin to breast 

 fulvous, with narrow longitudinal brown streaks ; from the breast 

 to the vent, white, with a pale brown streak on the centre of each 

 feather. 



The adult is darker brown above and on the head ; and the lower 

 parts white, the feathers all marked with broad stripes, or spots, 

 tending to form a denser zone on the throat and breast. 



Irides deep yellow; legs dirty pale yellow. 



Length of a male 26 or 27 inches ; wing 20; tail 10^ : weight 

 21bs. II oz. A. female is about 30 inches; wing 23; tail 12; 

 tarsus 4 ; mid-toe 3 ; bill at gape 2| ; weight 3|lt;s. *• 



The head is large, full and pufly ; the feathers of the head, and 

 neck rounded, not lanceolate ; the wings reach to the end of the tail. 



This Serpent Eagle is spread over all India, but not found, in 

 general, in forest, or thick jungle. It prefers the open plains, and 

 cultivated ground, either wet or dry. It may often be seen 

 seated on a low tree, or sometimes even a bowrie pole, whence it 

 occasionally darts on its quarry ; but it generally circles in the 

 air, taking a long and lofty flight, now and then flying heavily 



