OPEN NESTS 159 



(Aquila) are most addicted to building in trees ; the 

 Sea Eagles (Haliaetus) being more partial to cliffs, 

 although some of these birds may be said habitually 

 to nest in trees also, as, for instance, Pallas's Sea 

 Eagle {H. leucoryphus), which in India, at all events, 

 generally constructs its huge nest of sticks lined with 

 leaves in the forking branches of a pipal tree, near to 

 some jheel. Then, again, the American Bald Eagle 

 (H. leucocephalus) constructs a huge nest of sticks, 

 some six feet in diameter, lined with grass, on some 

 lofty tree, but occasionally this species nests on the 

 ground of a small island, and in such cases it is very 

 slight, a few sticks covered with food refuse. The 

 American Harpy Eagles (Thrasaetus) also nest indis- 

 criminately upon trees or cliffs, and make equally 

 elaborate structures. The Buzzards (Buteoninse) are 

 builders of similar big nests composed primarily of 

 sticks occasionally mixed with turf, and variously 

 lined with finer twigs, strips of bark, dry grass, roots, 

 weeds, and moss. Here, again, a green lining either 

 of leaves or twigs, vi'ith green buds on them, is in 

 many cases provided. These nests are made in trees 

 of varying heights, or upon ledges of cliffs. The Kites 

 (Milvinse) differ very little in their nesting arrange- 

 ments, choosing precisely similar sites, but the lining 

 is very characteristic, usually consisting of dry dung, 

 rags, paper, or wool, some of these materials often 

 being festooned about the exterior also. The 

 Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), however, builds a 



