1844.] 



of the Peninsula of India. 



159 



something. I found in this bush a dove's nest empty, which 

 it had evidently robbed. This eagle thus appears to be ha- 

 bitually a robber of birds' nests, and as doves, as well as some 

 other birds, breed throughout the whole year, it can probably 

 sustain itself mostly on its favorite food, though it doubtless 

 occasionly destroys young, feeble or sickly birds, and perhaps 

 reptiles. 



I may mention that the specimens I procured were begin- 

 ning to moult, and the new feathers appear darker than the 

 present ones, in some parts almost black indeed. I have not 

 seen it in any other locality. 



14. — Circaetus f undulatus. 



Specimens shot lately in the northern part of the Penin- 

 sula shew a larger size than those procured in the southern 

 jungles. I give the dimensions of one I shot at Dowlutabad 

 tank. Length 33 inches ; extent of wing 62 ; wing from 

 flexure 21 ; tail 14 ; tarsus 4J ; bill straight to gape 1 ~ ; mid- 

 toe with claw 3. This sub-genus of Circaetus, which differs 

 in its straighter bill, and shorter wings, may be named 

 Ophaetus in reference to its usual food. 



18. — Pernis eristata. 



I have lately procured one or two specimens on the Neil- 

 gherries — apparently young birds, which have the whole of 

 the under plumage white with the shafts of the feathers alone 

 brown — the head and neck, too, are of a much lighter shade, 

 with a dark eyestreak. In these specimens the crest was 

 well marked. 



19. — Pernis Elliotti. 



Since the first part of this Catalogue was printed, I have 

 met with this Honey Buzzard near Jaulnah. I find from a 

 specimen shot in a state of moult that it changes the white 



