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Show 1876.] BIRDS O F N O R T H - W E S T E R N INDIA." 777 *41 bis. POLIOAETUS PLUMBEUS. (Plate LXXXII.) Haliaetus plumbeus, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. vi. p. 367. Poliaetusplumbeus, Jerdon, Ibis, 1871, p. 336. The accompanying Plate of this little-known Fish-Eagle will enable ornithologists to readily distinguish its characters from the allied though very distinct P. ichthgaetus, from which species I have reason to believe it has not always been discriminated. As the present example, a mature 6*, making the third recorded occurrence of this Eagle in the plains*, is identical in every respect with the pair referred to in * Stray Feathers'f, any further description of its plumage and habits would be superfluous. It was killed at Ghirar, in the Mainpuri district, on February 9th of the present year ; and had my gun been up at the time, the prize would have been easily secured, as it remained seated on a tree on the opposite side of the canal for fully half an hour. Once disturbed, the bird became very impatient; and though only taking small flights and never leaving the canal, it changed its position a dozen times and entailed a deal of manoeuvring before allowing itself to be bagged. The canal was at low-water mark; and the fish which had congregated in the deep clear pools must have been the attraction to this place. Carefullv measured in the flesh, the following are the results :- Length 23*5 inches ; wing from carpal joint 16*5 ; tail from vent 9*6 ; tarsus 3.5 ; bill, straight, including cere, 1*7; greatest expanse of foot -length 5*0, breadth 46, centre toe and claw straight 3*1. The legs and feet were white, washed with light livid blue; the upper mandible was blue-black, the blue being distinctly visible ; the cere, gape, and lower mandible were leaden-blue, the blue being very distinct and a good deal lighter than the upper mandible; the irides were amber-colour, and the claws were black. The pads or soles of the feet were as rough as a nutmeg-grater, thus admirably adapting them for the capture of its slippery prey. In concluding my remarks, I wish to draw attention to the wonderful development of the ear-orifice, as well as to the slight difference there is between the sexes of this Eagle. The females, I should say, averaged from 24*5 to 25*5 inches in length, with awing from 18 to 18*5 ; the males from 23*5 to 24*5, with a proportionately smaller wing. For convenience of reference, I append dimensions of the three adult specimens I have had an opportunity of examining in the flesh, and regarding the sexing of which there is no doubt:- Wing from Tail from Sex. Locality. Length. carpal joint. vent. Tarsus. in. in. in. in, <?. Kumaon 23*0 17*5 10*0 3*3 <J. Mainpuri 23*5 16*5 9*6 3*5 $. Kumaon 24*5 180 10*5 3*4 * One, Etawah (Brooks); one, Lucknow Museum (Anderson); one, Mainpuri (Anderson). f Cf. ' Stray Feathers,' vol. iii. p. 385, |
