The Common Birds of the Palni Hills 



49. Loriculus vernalis. The Indian loriquet 

 or love-bird. 



THE STRIGID^ OR OWL FAMILY 



50. Ketufa zeylonensis . The brown fish- 

 owl. A large bird with aigrettes. The eyes 

 are bright yellow. The legs are devoid of 

 feathers. The call is a series of grunts. 



THE VULTURID^ OR VULTURE FAMILY 



51. Neophron ginginianus. The smaller 

 white scavenger vulture. This occurs up to at 

 least 5000 feet. Fairbank did not observe any 

 other vultures on the higher hills, but it is 

 unlikely that Pseudogyps bengalensis (the 

 white-backed vulture), Gyps indicus (the long- 

 billed vulture), and Otogyps calvus (the black or 

 Pondicherry vulture) do not visit the higher 

 hills. These three birds should be looked 

 for, especially the first. 



THE FALCONID^ OR FAMILY OF BIRDS 

 OF PREY 



52. Ictinaetus malayensis. The black eagle. 

 Not very common. 



53. Milvus govinda. The common pariah 



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