246 



BIRDS. 



[Chap. VIII. 



northern coasts and the salt lakes of the eastern pro- 

 vinces, particularly when the receding tide leaves bare 

 an expanse of beach, over which it hunts, in company 

 with the fishing eagle 1 , sacred to Siva. Unlike its 

 companions, however, the sea eagle rejects garbage for 

 living prey, and especially for the sea snakes which 

 abound on the northern coasts. These it seizes by 

 descending with its wings half closed, and, suddenly 

 darting down its talons, it soars aloft again with its 

 writhing victim. 2 



Hawks. — The beautiful Peregrine Falcon 3 is rare, 

 but the Kestrel 4 is found almost universally ; and the 

 bold and daring Groshawk 5 wherever wild crags and pre- 

 cipices afford safe breeding places. In the district of 

 Anarajapoora, where it is trained for hawking, it is 

 usual, in lieu of a hood, to darken its eyes by means 

 of a silken thread passed through holes in the eyelids. 

 The ignoble birds of prey, the Kites 6 , keep close by the 

 shore, and hover round the returning boats of the fisher- 

 men to feast on the fry rejected from their nets. 



Owls. — Of the nocturnal accipitres the most remark- 

 able is the brown owl, which, from its hideous yell, has 

 acquired the name of the " Devil-Bird." 7 The Singha- 



1 Haliastur Indus, Bodd. Hamilton Buchanan remarks that 



2 E. L. Layard. Europeans have when gorged this bird delights to 

 given this bird the name of the sit on the entablature of buildings, 

 " Brahminy Kite," probably from exposing its back to the hottest 

 observing the superstitious feeling rays of the sun, placing its breast 

 of the natives regarding it, who against the wall, and stretching 

 believe that when two armies are out its wings exactly as the Egyptian 

 about to engage, its appearance Hawk is represented on the monu- 

 prognosticates victory to the party ments. 



over whom it hovers. 7 Syrnium Indranee, Sykes. Mr. 



3 Ealco peregrinus, Linn. Blyth writes to me from Calcutta 



4 Tinnunculus alaudarius, Briss. that there are some doubts about 



5 Astur trivirgatus, Temm. this bird. There would appear to 



6 Milvus govinda, Sykes. Dr. be three or four distinguishable 



