38 MSAETUS FASCIATUS. 



years have elapsed since this occurrence, which was prior to 1858 ; and since then I am unable to find any 

 record of its having been met with in Ceylon. The specimen referred to was identified by Mr. Blyth, when 

 he was Curator of the Calcutta Museum, so that there is no chance of the species having been mistaken Eor 

 any other Eagle. 



Bonelli's Eagle is, as far as the Indian peninsula is concerned, chiefly confined to the northern part of it. 

 It is not uncommon in portions of Bengal, but not so in the lower districts of the Province. 



In Madras and the south generally, it is rarer; and I notice that it is not included in the " First List of 

 Bii'ds from the Travancore Hills " ('Stray Feathers/ vol. iv.) even as a rare visitor. Dr. Jerdon, however, 

 records it from the Nilghiris, whence it no doubt visited Ceylon when procured by Tcmpleton. 



It is an inhabitant of the slopes of the Himalayas ; Mr. Brooks records it among the birds he observed 

 between Mussoori and Gangaotri. In the north-east of India it is more common than elsewhere; for in Sindh, 

 Mr. Hume says, " one, two, or more pairs are to be met with about every large lake, making terrible havoc 

 amongst the smaller water-birds, and carrying off wounded fowl before one's eyes with the greatest impudence." 

 In Southern Europe, Bonelli's Eagle is a well-known bird. Lord Lilford and Mr. Howard Saunders speak of 

 its common occurrence in Spain, and on the northern coasts of Africa it is also pretty freely distributed. 



Mr. Brooke has met with it in Sardinia; and Canon Tristram remarks that it is more common in Palestine 

 than the next species, being generally found in the wooded hills about Carmel, Tabor, and the Lake of Galilee. 



Habits. — Bocky wooded hills, mountainous jungles, and forests in the vicinity of high land arc the habitat 

 of this bold and daring Eagle. Jerdon says that " it is much on the wing, sailing at a great height, and 

 making its appearance at certain spots, in the districts it frequents, always about the same hour." The latter 

 propensity is noticeable in other birds of prey, for I have remarked it in the Sea-Eagle and Crested Hawk- 

 Eagle of Ceylon. The present species is very powerful in the legs and feet, and is known to kill the smaller 

 kinds of game and hares with ease. It is, however, so strong and active on the w r ing that it preys largely on 

 various birds, such as Jungle-fowl, Partridges, Ducks, and Herons, and, according to Jerdon "even Peafowl." 



It is very destructive among Fowls and Pigeons ; and it is recorded, in the ' Birds of India,' that a pair 

 committed great devastation among several pigeon-houses in the Nilgkiris. 



The following interesting account of the manner in which these robbers captured the Pigeons is given by 

 Jerdon at page C9 of his first volume : — " 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 made another and, this 

 time, a fatal stoop." Such a bird as this would do much damage in the poultry-yards of many a pretty 

 bungalow in the Kandyan province. 



Concerning its economy in Palestine, Canon Tristram remarks as follows : — " It perches on some 

 conspicuous point of rock looking out for its prey, and after a short circling excursion will again and again 

 return to the same post of observation. I take it to be more truly a game-killing Raptor than any of the 

 preceding Eagles " (the Golden, Imperial, Tawny, and Booted), " and less addicted to carrion-feeding than any 

 of its congeners. The Bock-Pigeons are its favourite quarry in the winter, and it preys much on the Turtle- 

 Doves in the Ghor and the plain of Gennesaret. I have also seen it pursue Kites, apparently with the intent 

 of robbing them." 



Its fondness for Pigeons was noticed by Mr. Hume, who killed the male of the pair which form the subject 

 of his interesting article in 'Rough Notes,' returning to the nest with a Little Brown Dove [Turlur cambay- 

 ensis) in its talons. This Eagle has a singular habit of packing in large flocks, one of which very unaquiline 

 assemblies was witnessed by Lord Lilford in Spain, he being informed that such flights were not unfrequently 

 seen. This was in May, during the breeding-season of the species ; and, as is remarked, the bird being a 

 permanent resident in the country, it is a difficult matter to account for such an assemblage. The note of 

 this Hawk-Eagle is described as being a " shrill croaking cry." 



Nidification. — In the plains of India Bonelli's Eagle breeds in December and January, and in the Hima- 

 layas and the district of Kumaon much later, commencing in April and continuing until June. In the 



