Descriptive List of the Common Birds 
146. Aquila vindbiana: The Indian Tawny 
Eagle. (F. 1203), (J. 29), (+V.) 
In colouring this bird is very like the common 
kite, but has not so long a tail ; and its legs are 
feathered right down to the toe—this is the 
sign-manual of all the true eagles. A bird that 
looks like a kite with feathered legs is probably 
a tawny eagle—the commonest eagle in India, 
abundant everywhere save on the Malabar 
coast. 
147. Butastur teesa: The White-eyed Buz- 
zard. (F. 1220), (J. 48), (IV.) 
This bird of prey is about the size of the 
common house crow. Eha writes, “ A Buzzard’s 
idea of life is to sit upon a pole, or on top of a 
small tree commanding a good expanse of grass 
land, and to watch for a field mouse, or a lizard, 
or even a fat grasshopper. If you see a biggish, 
untidy hawk, of a sandy brown colour, more or 
less dashed with whitish, spending the morning 
in this way, you may put it down as Butastur 
teesa.” ‘The sign-manual of this common bird 
is its white eye, and if you cannot get near 
enough to make this out with the aid of field 
glasses, you may still identify this species by 
the conspicuous white patch on the nape of 
the neck. 
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