Birds in Sanskrit Literature names can apply only to these or to the White-bellied Sea Eagle. Another name, a, in the list is probably in reference to the spotted and broad nuchal crest (4) covering the whole nape of the crested Serpent-Eagles (cf. for the Tufted Pochard-Art. 84c). 6. The Indian White-eyed Buzzard Eagle is the sole representative of its genus in India. The iris of adult birds is almost white or pale yellow. and the name gener (white-eyed) for a kind of Hawk in ferrere is for this bird as no other Hawk or Eagle has eyes of that colour. The Buzzard-Eagle (12"-18") is "no bigger than a Crow" and the name (the Raven) of the which is a little larger than Raven. may refer to it or to the Black Eagle 212 C. SEA-EAGLES & FISHING-EAGLES 1. The white-tailed Sea-Eagle is a winter visitor to the north-west of India while the White-bellied Sea-Eagle is a bird of the Indian sea-coast. Both live on fish and the latter also largely on sea-snakes. The white- bellied Sea-eagle is very voracious and seen incessantly returning to one of the big trees on the coast carrying sea-snakes, five to six feet in length, in his claws and devouring them at ease.¹ Both again, do not refuse carrion if available. 2. "The Sea Eagles are among the noblest looking of all birds" and the White-bellied sea-Eagle of the Indian coasts is undoubtedly the bird referred to as the gt (s) diving to the sea to seize serpents in the story of the Prince अयोगृह in the जातकमाला of आयंजूर :- पक्षानिलैलँडितमीनकुलं व्युदस्य मेघौधभीमरसितं जलमर्णवेभ्यः । सर्पान्हरन्ति विततग्रहणाः सुपर्णा मृत्युं पुनः प्रमथितुं न तथोत्सहन्ते ॥ Verse 32. Simiarly the bird belonging to the family of गरुड (पक्षी गरुडवंशज :) led by his love of carrion to pick up a bundle of elephant-hide containing a living person floating on the sea, is this Eagle - तत्र दृष्ट्वा च तच्चर्म निपत्यामिषशङ्कया । हृत्वाब्धेः पारमनयत् पक्षी गरुडवंशजः ॥ The White-bellied Sea-Eagle, again, is mentioned (अधिपः पतलिणां गरूड) catching snakes in the sea "फणावतामुद्धरणेषु वारिधि प्रवाहसिक्ताबुदयाचलस्थितः । वितत्य पक्षावधिपः पतविणां कथासरित्सागर 12.113 as the king of birds व्यशोषयन्नप्रतिसूर्यमायतम्" जानकीहरण, 5.20 1. "Stray Feathers". IV. 423. Cf. चिरात् (चिरं अत्ति) for गरुड-शब्दकल्पद्रुम Eagles, Falcons and Allied Birds 213 He is known as कोहासा (उत्कोश) and सांपमार (सर्पान्तक) in Hindi. The first name is after the bird's call which is, "a very loud clanging cry of many notes" (cf. of the M. Bh. list) and the second explains itself. The White-tailed Sea-Eagle has merely "a querulous chatter, insignificant for so large a bird" and is therefore not , but being a powerful bird he has been designated as are in the Mahabharata-see below, and cf. सुबल included in that progeny of गयड the Mbh list. 3. The Ring-tailed Sea Eagle of Jerdon, belonging to the same genus, Haliaetus, as the two Sea-Eagles considered above, now goes under the name of Pallas's Fishing Eagle. In North India he is undoubtedly a resi- dent inland bird but out of India his range extends to the Caspian and Black Seas and the Persian Gulf. He is the largest Fishing Eagle of North India and is sub-equal in size to the white-tailed Sea-Eagle. He is fulvous white on the head, neck and upper back including the scapulars, also on the upper neck and breast and dark brown on lower back, rump and the remaining parts. Generally speaking, therefore, the colour-pattern of this Eagle resembles that of the much smaller Brahminy Kite ( with white and chestnut where the other is fulvous and dark brown. From his brown-back this Eagle is the ages and from habit of fiercely of the lexicons in Nepal (See in defending his young at the nest he is also the fear (see section E of the article). He is actually known as Sectlon E). It is this which is described as a kind of var by his gloss on d० सं० 5.4.11. He is मछरंगा or मखमंगा (Sansk, मत्स्वरङ्क) in Hindi, and मछकोरल (मत्स्य कुरर) and बल in Bengal. Now बल (powerful, strong) as a carrion eating bird, mentioned with, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, at several places in the most probably refers to the white tailed Sea-Eagle, and both occur in North India. M. Williams renders merely as a 'Crow' but in the St. Petersburg Dictionary it is (i) a Crow and (ii) a bird of prey. The passages given below mention with Tor and leave hardly any doubt as to its identity : सम्पतन्तश्च दृश्यन्ते गोमायुबलवायसाः (6.100.27) बलानां वायसानां च पुरस्तात्सव्यसाचिन: (7.88.4) गृधकाकबलोलूककङ्कगोमायुहर्षणम् (7.167.43) गृधाः कङ्का बका: श्येना यातुधानास्तथा वृका (5.143.19) Here is the white-tailed Sea-Eagle, g Pallas's Fishing Eagle, the Tawny Eagle, and the Adjutant Stork-all carrion eaters. The follow- ing again from the grar clinches the point : गुधकङ्कबलवासीदन्तरिक्षं समावृतम् (7.129.19) Here and are said to be soaring high in the sky in company with the Vultures and they are the above two Eagles as a Crow is not common- ly known to fly, much less t o soar, so high whereas the White-tailed Sea- Eagle and Pallas's Fishing Eagle are undoubtedly high-soaring birds. The northern version of the Ramayana also mentions as a carrion-bird :-
