64 



NOTES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF A RARE EAGLE NEW 

 TO CEYLON; AND OTHER INTERESTING OR RARE 

 BIRDS, 



BY S. BLIGH, ESQ., KotmalL 



T HAVE the great pleasure of recording the occurrence of 

 that rare and beautiful eagle, "Limnaetus Kienieri," of De 

 Sparre, called by Jerdon (" Birds of India," page 74) the 

 "Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle." I shot a fine male example 

 t)f this splendid-looking bird on the 20th October last; and as 

 it has not hitherto been recorded as occurring in Ceylon, and 

 is rare even in India, the following particulars of its capture 

 and description may be of interest and worth recording. 



An hour before sundown, as I was walking by the skirts 

 of a narrow belt of jungle surrounded by patanas, I heard 

 the call-note of a Java Sparrow; being desirous of obtaining a 

 specimen, I went in search of it, and soon discovered a small 

 flock of these birds on the top of a very high tree, evidently 

 enjoying the beautiful evening as much as myself after so 

 many weeks of rain, as they were piping their pleasant notes 

 incessautly. Whilst waiting for the chance of a shot, I saw a 

 large bird of prey leisurely sailing just above the trees in 

 circles, in a very buoyant and graceful manner, rarely flap- 

 ping its wings, evidently hunting for a supper (on dissection 

 the stomach proved to be quite empty). My little terrier was 

 frisking about some thirty yards off, and on arriving over the 

 spot, the bold bird at once altered its flight, hovering in 

 small circles, with a heavy flapping of the wings, evidently 

 with a view of examining the dog — giving me an opportunity 

 of making a clear but long shot. I brought it down with a 

 broken wing. On going to pick it up, I saw it was an un- 

 known species to me. It put itself in an attitude of defence 



