14 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 



ing on isolated trees. It lays a single white egg. The crested serpent 

 eagles (Spilornis) are found in forests and-well-watered tracts. S. cheela 

 breeds in the warm sub- Himalayan valleys. The nest is placed about 

 half way up a tree near water, and the eggs two in number are slightly 

 spotted. They migrate to the well-watered plains in the cold weather. 

 The others are probably permanent residents were found. 



Fishing eagles, {PanMon, PoUoatus, Haliceiun).— These are 

 always found in the neighbourhood of water. They build enormous nests 

 of sticks on high trees. The osprey (P. halmtus) probably breeds in 

 this country, but the eggs have not as yet been taken. They are very 

 handsomely blotched. The other fishing eagles are permanent residents 

 where they occur, and lay unspotted white eggs. 



Buzzards, {Buteo, JrcUhuteo, Poliornis). — Of the true buz- 

 zards {Buteo) only one, the long-legged buzzard {B. eanescens) is known 

 to breed in India. It breeds in the far north-west. The others are con- 

 fined to the mountains of India and affect well-wooded slopes. Their 

 eggs are boldly blotched. Of the genus Archibuteo nothing is known. 

 The two species that occur in Indir {A. hemiptolopus and A. strophiatus) are 

 some of the rarest birds in collections. The white-eyed buzzard (P. teesa), 

 the only representative of the genus Poliornis in India proper, is very 

 common throughout the plains, and a permanent resident everywhere. 

 Its eggs, three in number, are unspotted as a rule. 



Harriers, (Circus). — Are cold weather visitants to India, re- 

 tiring north and west to breed. One the marsh harrier (Cceruginosus) 

 may prossibly breed in a few localities, but the majority of them leave 

 the country. They breed on the ground in marshy tracts and lay bluish 

 unspotted eggs. 



Kites, (Haliastur, Milvus, Baza, Manus). — The brahminykite 

 (H. Indus) is found in all well-watered districts, and is a permanent 

 resident where found. Of the breeding of the crested kite {Baza 

 lophotes) nothing is known. It is wide spread in its distribution, but rare 

 everywhere. The black-v ■■ ;_,ed kite, {E. melanopterus) is common in 

 well-wooded districts." All the kites, except the larger Indian kite 

 (M. major) which migrates to the plains in the cold weather, appear 

 to be stationary in their habits. They all build on trees and lay hand- 

 somely blotched eggs. 



Owls, {Striic, Soelostrix, Phodilus, Bvlacca, Otus, Ascalaphia, 

 Huhua, Bubo, Nyctea, Ketvpa, Ephialtes, Athene, Heteroglaux, 



