130 WANDERINGS "OF A. 



The bald-headed eagle of Asia {H. maee€) pays cold- 

 weather visits to the inland marshes. I took its eggs as early 

 as the 12th of Decemher ; the nest was built on an old 

 peepul-tree near the Eawul Pindee bog. I had then several 

 opportunities of observing the extraordinary rapid stoop of 

 this fine eagle ; the noise of its wings, and the wild scream as 

 it darted obliquely downwards on a flock of mallard and teal 

 (none of which, however, did it manage to capture on that oc- 

 casion), brought to recollection "Wilson's and Audubon's 

 descriptions of its American ally. The handsome little 

 chicquera falcon is plentiful in the acacia "topes." The 

 crested lark and green wagtail (M. viridis), with the blue- 

 black head in the breeding season, are both exceedingly com- 

 mon. The last, as before noticed, is subject to seasonal 

 changes of plumage, which have occasioned much confusion, 

 and led to errors in nomenclature. 



