64 BONELLI’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 im 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, ( Tantalus 
leucocephalus. ) 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, owmg 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 
