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assuredly have hurled him into the river. In this manner, however, after repeated attempts to 

 come to the rescue, we managed to drive off the old birds and secure our booty." 



Mr. Hume also publishes the following notes sent to him by Captain Hutton : — " In the 

 Dhera Dhoon this bird is extremely common ; but it merely skirts the outer hills, about 5500 feet, 

 without entering them. I have seen six to eight together, passing along the side of the hills 

 below Mussoorie for some distance, and then returning again in like manner ; but what the 

 object can be I cannot make out ; for there is no fishing-ground along that route. They build in 

 lofty trees on the banks of the larger Dhoon streams, laying one or two large, white eggs. The 

 nest I have described in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. The cry of this bird is 

 loud and harsh, and somewhat querulous ; it may be heard at a great distance, and on more than 

 one occasion has guided me to the nest. Often have I watched this handsome bird seated high, 

 perched in solitude, upon the dry and leafless branch of some tall tree that overlooked a river- 

 bank, or oftener seated on the bank itself, watching perchance for the appearance of its prey. 



" Uttering its shrill and clamorous cry, half croak, half scream, it would suddenly spread out 

 its wings and sweep across the water, rising gradually in wide gyrations, until nearly lost to sight, 

 and taking a keen survey of the plain beneath, then gradually descending in circles as before, 

 until with a sudden downward headlong rush it would dash upon a Partridge or a Hare and 

 bear it off in triumph. I have seen it hawking on the Ganges after Ducks and Teal, which are 

 sometimes found, in the rains, breeding with swarms of Paddy-birds on the Colgong rocks, in the 

 middle of the river. The Duck would quietly paddle along the centre of the stream ; and the 

 Eagle would follow the same course far above, but gradually and slily descending along the line, 

 until with a sudden downward dash it would nearly reach the Duck, and then slowly and 

 gradually sweep upwards again as the wary little Duck plunged deeply beneath the surface to 

 rise again before or behind the Eagle, which would pursue it over and over again in like manner 

 without a chance of success, until, weary of the chase, he would wing his way to shore, doubtless 

 to inform his mate that no ' duck and green peas ' were forthcoming for that day's dinner! 



" Where, however, the Duck is a wounded one (and I have but rarely seen these Eagles strike 

 at those that were not so) the result is often different, as my own notes, which I proceed to tran- 

 scribe, will show: — This is essentially a water-bird, and, as far as I know, is never found far 

 from the banks of large rivers, lakes, or jheels. Early in the morning, even in cold weather, it 

 goes down to the water-side and has a bath. It is amusing to watch this large bird standing up 

 to its belly in water, sitting down first on one side, then on the other, so as to wash the wings and 

 back, ducking the head in and out, and splashing, sputtering, and fluttering the wings, for all 

 the world like a Pigeon or a Sparrow. After its bath it resorts to the top of a tree, or, along the 

 banks of large rivers, to some craggy point, where it sits awhile sunning itself, generally with its 

 wings half-outspread. Thence it flies heavily off to seek a meal. A large fish near the surface 

 attracts its attention as it flies pretty low over the river ; down it swoops with more activity and 

 rapidity than its habitual demeanour and method of flight would lead one to expect, and strikes 

 for a breakfast, dashing its huge feet and long legs into the water right up to the body. Very 

 often (far more often than he succeeds) the Ringtail is baulked by the Roohoo (Cyprinus rohita 

 and mrigala), his favourite fishy food, and has to try again and again before he succeeds. If 

 anywhere he should spy a wounded Goose or other-water bird, he is down on him or after 



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