Catalogue of the Birds 



[July 



fem.). In a female 28 inches long, the wings are 21 inches. Expansion of 

 do. about 5^feef. Tail 11 inches. Tarsus 3 ; mid toe and claw 3. Cere 

 deep yellow. Feet a little paler do. Irides hazel brown. The Wolhab 

 is the most abundant Eagle in India. I have seen it both in the Carnatic, 

 though more rarely, and on the table-land, where it is tolerably common. 

 In the Carnatic it chiefly frequents hilly districts clad with low jungle. 

 In the Deccan it frequents, by preference, the cultivated lands near vil- 

 lages. Till an hour or two after sunrise, it may be seen seated on the 

 top of some tree, after which it sallies forth, sailing about at a moderate 

 height in general (though it varies much in this respect) over the fields, 

 valleys, and ravines, with a slow and circling flight, or in company with 

 the kites, like which it is ever on the look out;hovers over villages, towns 

 and cantonments. They prey upon hares, (as I have ascertained, in one 

 or two instances, from the contents of their stomach,) and other game ; 

 also rats, lizards, snakes and insects ; occasionally also pounce on an un- 

 wary bird, and in fact feed upon almost any kind of food, living or dead, 

 which, however, they obtain perhaps less by their own industry than by 

 robbing other birds, kites, falcons, and other birds of prey. From Mr. 

 Elliot's notes, I extract the following — " The Wokhab i« very trouble- 

 some in hawking after the sun becomes hot, mistaking the jesses for 

 some kind of prey and pouncing on the falcon to seize it. I have once 

 or twice nearly lost Shaheens inconsequence, they flying to great distances 

 from fear of the JVokhab." The one I possess alive, is not very parti- 

 cular as to its food. It frequently snatches morsels from the golden 

 Eagle kept with it, to which the latter in general quietly submits ; is a 

 very noisy bird, frequently uttering its shrill scream, and has a great 

 share of curiosity, walking up to, andcaretully and thoroughly examining 

 every new comer I place in the same apartment. It is apparently a very 

 easily domesticated bird, and perhaps might be taught tohunt hares, &c* 



11 Aq. ? Neilgherry Eagle. 



On the summit of the Neilgherries there is very frequently seen a 

 black Eagle, larger than the JVokhab, but of which I was unable to pro- 

 cure a specimen. I have heard it is also often met with in Coorg. 



•It is considered, too slow and heavy for purposes of Falconry. I differ only with Mr. 

 Jerdon in thinking the dark species {Aq . fusca, Gray), to be the young bird, which grows 

 lighter by age, and becomes A. Jlavescens when old. — W, E. 



