POLIOAETTJS. 169 



Polioaetus plumbeus (Hodgs.). The Himalayan Fishing-Eagle. 



Polioaetus plumbeus (Hodgs.), Hume, Rough Draft N. ^ E. 

 no. 41 bis. 



The Himalayan fishing-Eagle, generally, I believe, lays in 

 January ; but in the valleys of Kumaon and G-urhwal, where it is, 

 I know, far from uncommon, it is said to lay as late as April. 



It buUds invariably, as far as I have yet observed, on large trees 

 situated on the bank of some river, or in the immediate proximity 

 of some considerable piece of waler. It constructs its own nest, 

 returning, like the Golden Eagle, year after year to the same spot, 

 and each year adding fresh materials, so that the nest, a very large 

 one to begin with, grows in time to an enormous size, reminding 

 one of Wilson's description of those of the Osprey. Stout sticks and 

 small branches, mingled with twigs and grass-roots, are the principal 

 materials ; but weeds and coarse grass help to fill up the interior, 

 in which, as in the case of BoneUi's Eagle and others, a thin layer 

 of green * leaves is commonly spread for the eggs to rest on. The 

 eggs are normally three in number ; but I have twice seen only 

 tv\o eggs in a nest, in both cases fully incubated. 



The late Major Cock sent me the following note from Hassen 

 Abdul in the extreme North-west : — " The nest of this species is 

 a very large structure of sticks, in fact the biggest nest that I have 

 known of. I found one on the top of a high thorn-tree on the 

 banks of a river. When I first visited the nest it was empty, but 

 the bird was sitting on the tree near it. I again visited the nest 

 about a fortnight later, and found three eggs in it. The nest was 

 about o| feet in height, about 4| in diameter, and but slightly 

 hollow. There were lots of leaves in the nest quite fresh. The 

 leaves belonged to some small shrub (the leaf itself was a very 

 small one), and were evidently placed there to make a softer bed 

 for the eggs. The birds had built in the same tree for an immense 

 time, but at length the tree was blown down, and they built on 

 the next biggest tree to it, and have continued for the last few 

 years to nidificate there. The eggs are dirty white, similar in 

 shape and size to the one sent to you. The birds did not exhibit 

 any anger when their eggs were taken, but the female flew round 

 and round a few times." 



Captain Unwin remarks : — " I found a nest of our Himalayan 

 Fisliing-Eagle in the neighbourhood of Hazara on the 27th Feb- 



* It is probable tbat the object of laying tbe eggs on green leaves is to 

 secure a certain amount of moisture for tbe shells. 



Eggs artificially hatcbed have, we know, to be daily sponged with a moist 

 cloth. Great numbers of birds leave their eggs for a short time about sunrise to 

 feed in grass and jungle, and return all "dewy-breasted" to their nests, so 

 tbat I have taken Pea-fowl's eggs quite wet from this cause. But how is 

 sufficient moisture secured for eggs laid, like those of the Sand-Grouse, on the 

 bare, absolutely dry sand, whose parents feed in the driest ground (never even 

 when they drink wetting their feathers in the slightest), and return dry-breasted 

 to their eggs ? 



