OCR Text |
Show 1868.] MR. R. C. BEAVAN ON INDIAN RAPTORES. 395 cere greenish yellow ; base of both upper and lower mandible bluish slaty, tips of both dark horny; legs greenish yellow, with black claws. Length 10| inches, wing 6g, tarsus 2, spread of foot underneath 2g, tail 5j, extent fully 18. This bird is at present in Col. Ty tier's private collection. 24. ACCIPITER NISUS, Linn. The European Sparrow-Hawk. A specimen, $ juv. (No. 547 of m y catalogue), was procured by me at Ambekanugger, Maunbhoom district, in December 1864. I have not seen it again in the country, but observed some small Hawks frequenting the high Casuarina trees regularly every evening at Barrackpore in the same year, which looked like this species on the wing. As I could not shoot, it being a military station, 1 was unable to secure a specimen and satisfy myself regarding their identity. 25. ACCIPITER VIRGATUS, Temm. The Besra Sparrow-Hawk. An adult f, according to Col. Tytler, was killed by m e at Simla, on the 19th June, 1866. This was a very perfect specimen. Irides bright golden red, cere and gape light yellow with a tinge of green; legs bright yellow, with black claws, bill bluish leaden. Length 11-f inches ; wing 6f ; tail 5-|; tarsus nearly 2 ; bill at front, including cere, \, breadth at base T 7y, bill at gape \jr; extent 18f. W e now come to that fine family amongst the Birds of Prey, viz. the Eagles, which are well represented in India, but of which I have hitherto procured but few specimens, and those generally of the common sorts. 27. AQUILA IMPERIALIS. The Imperial Eagle. I procured a fine specimen of this fine bird at Umballah, on the 30th November, 1866. It was seated on a low tree, not far from the slaughterhouses belonging to the Commissariat Department; and I see that the late Dr. Scott, who accompanied me on that occasion, has since procured examples which he transmitted to the Natural- History Society of Montrose. My specimen weighed 6^ lbs. Length 30^ inches ; wing 22| ; tail 115 ; tarsus 3f ; spread of foot underneath 6, hind claw alone being 1| ; bill at front 1|, and at gape 2j|; extent 6 feet. This bird was conspicuous by its light rufous-white head, and the large and pure-white feathers at the shoulder of the wing. The irides were brown mixed with pale yellow, the latter colour forming a light ring to the outer circumference of the eye. Cere and feet a very pale yellow ; bill bluish or greenish homy. I believe that this species subsists about Umballah chiefly on carrion. 29. AQUILA FULVESCENS. The Tawny Eagle. This, sometimes taken for the Chuhamar, or rat-killer of the natives, is common in the neighbourhood of Umballah, where several examples were procured both by the late Dr. Scott and myself. They may frequently be seen in cantonments, but high in air, soaring about in circles with the common Kite (Milvus govinda, |