64 BONELLl's EAGLE. 



continent of India, from the Himalayas to Cape 

 Comorin, but cannot be said to be an abundant species, 

 though few districts are not occasionally frequented or 

 visited by them. It chiefly affects the more wooded 

 and jungly districts, and especially the neighbourhood 

 of hills and mountain ranges. 



It is much on the wing, sailing at a great height, 

 and making its appearance at certain spots in the 

 districts it frequents always about the same hour. It 

 may often be seen seated on the summit of a lofty 

 tree, or on some overhanging rock. I have observed 

 it chiefly on the Neilgherries, along the range of 

 Western and Northern Ghauts, also, though more 

 sparingly, in the bare Deccan and Carnatic. It preys 

 by preference on various kinds of game, — hares, jungle 

 fowl, spur-fowl, and partridges, and even on pea-fowl; 

 also on ducks, herons, and other water-fowl, and ac- 

 cording to the testimony of native Shikarees, it has 

 been known to strike down the douk, f Tantalus 

 leucocephalus . J Most native Falconers, too, have 

 stories to relate of its having carried off a favourite 

 Hawk. On one occasion, on the Neilgherries, I obser- 

 ved it stoop successively at a spur-fowl, hare, and 

 pea-fowl, each time unsuccessfully however, owing to 

 the thickness of the jungle. A pair were also wont to 

 resort to a village at the hills, and carry off fowls. 

 Great havoc was committed among several pigeon-houses 

 on the Neilgherries by a pair of these Eagles, and 

 indeed I have heard that one or two were completely 

 devastated by them. The manner in which they cap- 

 ture the pigeons was described to me by two or three 

 eye-witnesses to be as follows: — On the pigeons taking 

 flight one of the Eagles pounced down from a vast 

 height on the flock, but directing its swoop rather 



