64 



Catalogue of the Birds 



Colonel Sykes correctly says of this bird ' mostly solitary/ Two or 

 three may however frequently be found hunting together over high 

 rocky and bushy hills. On the Neilgherries I have seen flocks of 

 twenty or thirty of what I conceived to be this species hunting in com- 

 pany over the hills, occasionally reconnoitering some spot where some- 

 thing unusual attracted their attention, and circling over it for some 

 time — and then pursuing their onward course. As I did not procure a 

 specimen, this may be a distinct species, perhaps the allied one 1 auri- 

 cularis' or social vulture, which is stated in some works to occur in 

 India. 



Genus NEOPHRON, Sav. 



4. N. Percnopterus, Sw.—Kul-moorgk, H.— -Dung bird — Scavenger.— 

 White Vulture. 



Very common ; most numerous in cantonments and large villages,, 

 where it is of the greatest utility. As Colonel Sykes remarks, « they 

 are most efficient scavengers.' 



Family FALCONIDiE. 



Sub Family AQUILXNiE. — Eagles. 

 Genus PANDION, Bay.— Fish-Eagle, or Fish-Hawk. 



5. P. Haliceetus, Sav. — A. Haliceetus, L.—Mucharera, H. — Osprey, 

 This bird appears to have been hitherto unrecorded as Indian, for in 



Yarrell's < British Birds' and Sir W. Jardine's later work in the ' Natu- 

 ralist's Library' there is no mention of its occurrence here, though its 

 geographical distribution is particularly recorded. I have seen it on 

 the Trichoor Lake, and near Ponany on the west coast, and a short 

 time ago obtained a specimen as far inland as Jaulnah. My specimens 

 correspond pretty exactly with the description of British ones. The 

 pectoral band was distinct on all— hides bright yellow. 



6. P. lineatus ? — Hal. lineatus, Gray ? — Pand* lndlcus, Hodgs. ? 



I several times observed a large Fishing Eagle on the Chilka lake, 

 which at a short distance appeared of an uniform greyish green colour. 



