244 Birds in Sanskrit Literature and also because its presence over an army was supposed to presage victory to it. This belief was shared even by the Mussalmans who call it 'Ru- mubarik' or 'lucky-faced'. This also explains the name for it. The qug relates that God fir was once secretly enjoying the company of certain pretty women in the absence of Parvati and the latter divining the truth assumed the form of this Kite (g), flew to the place and drove off her rivals. People wishing for good luck are therefore advised to greet the bird at sight and address the following prayer to it² :- “कुङ्कमारक्तसर्वाङ्गि कुन्देन्दुधवलानने । सर्वमङ्गलदे देवि क्षेमङ्करि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ The first half of the verse, it will be noticed, describes correctly the colour pattern of the bird's plumage. People in South India follow this advice but incorrectly call the bird Garuda. This name (fe) corresponds to af in a good sense as already indicated above. 4. Other names for this semi-sacred bird are धर्मचिल्ल, शंखचिल्ल, and कम्ब्बा- तायिन् (कम्बु, a white conch, and आतायिन् a Kite), the last two in reference to its white head, neck and upper breast. As eft and are the names of Durgå or Parvati they would also appear to be additional names for the bird whose form she assumed : "चचिका चिल्लदयिते खकामिन्यौ प्रकीर्तिते ।"–त्रिकाण्डशेष The name for this Kite is perhaps after its persistent call notes or it may refer to its body which looks as if painted with white and red sandal (cf. f), while reft (loving the sky) refers to its soaring habit. For as a possible name for this Kite see Art. 81, (5) para 7. 5. There is some doubt as to the identity of f (lover of one's progeny) as there are recorded instances of both the Brahminy Kite and Pallas's Fishing Eagle fiercely defending the nest, or young in the nest. E.H.N. Lowther, F.Z.S. speaking about this Kite says:-"there are few species more bold in the defence of their 'lares et penates' than is this species. Of the Brahminy Kite I think I can say, that always it has attack- ed us when we have climbed to its nest,' or busied ourselves building a tower from which to photograph the bird; and always it has struck home and usually drawn blood".... Pallas's Fishing Eagle, which does not attack a stealer of its eggs, shows a different temper as soon as the young are 1. सुष्टिखण्ड Ch 53. - 2. Ibid. 53.15. An alternative reading is quoted in g under "कुमारुणसर्वाङ्गि कुन्देन्दुधवलानने E मत्स्यमांसप्रिये देवि क्षेमकुरि नमोस्तु ते" The statement in the F.B.I. that this kite is sacred to god fire is incorrect and it is based upon an erroneous belief prevalent in certain parts of South India that it is the mythology. The physical basis of res is the Golden Eagle (Section A of this article) and the Brahminy Kite can only he said to be sacred to god fit for reasons given above. 3. Journal, Bom. Nat. His. Soc., Vol. 45. p. 6. sof Eagles, Falcons and Allied Birds 245 hatched out and it will then defend its young (3) with fierceness and determination. Hume writes from personal experience that once this Eagle attacked a man "with an unexpected ferocity from which nothing but my gun could have saved him". The female finding the man was able to avoid her attack, gave a shrill cry which brought the male on the scene and both then charged together with rage and fierceness of despair, and he had to fire and wound both of them as they advanced, and but for this they would have certainly hurled the man down into the river. He adds that the birds are not offensive before the eggs are hatched. Now both the Kite and the Eagle are and both may be described as far, but perhaps, the Eagle has a better right to the epithet as it loves and defends its young only but not the nest or even the eggs.¹ 6. This Kite is always found near water and is seen flying back and forth or floating lazily in wide circles overhead. This habit of flying in circles and thus facing round in all directions won for it the distinction of being named as a victim for the deities presiding over the points of the compass in "दिशां कड़ को"-बाज संहिता, and its method of picking up food from the surface of village tanks where water-nuts and lilies always grow, has furnished a name for a certain type of ascetics leading a hand to mouth life- "बिसङ्गाटकाहारास्ते कङ्काः साधकाः स्मृताः" स्कन्दपुराण A poet has pictured this Kite as the evening twilight: “सिन्धोः सुधांशुशकलं परिगृह्य सन्ध्या- क्षेमङ्करी निपतिताम्बरभूरुहाग्रे । चञ्चूपुटेन चपलेन तथा विकीर्णा- स्तारामिषेण पतिता इव पक्षखण्डा:" ॥ सुभाषित 7. The Common Pariah Kite and allied forms are common everywhere. In literature they are mentioned by the names of wf and qut while the lexicons give चिल्ल, चिरम्भण आतायिन्, and शुद्री (धन्वन्तरिनिघण्टु) as additional names. If the equation, "खभ्रान्तिः कण्ठनीडक:"-विकाण्डशेष does not apply to the Kestrel as suggested in Section D, para 17, it would give two other syno- nyms for the Common Kite. In the Vaj. Sam. a kite is dedicated to the deity presiding over 'Marksmanship' or the Art of Archery: "oare: frogr 1. S. Baker holds the opposite view, viz. that this Eagle is a cowardly bird (F.B.I. 2nd ed.) though he refers to Hutton for a graphic description of a ferocious defence put up by a pair for their young. 2. 24.31. It may well share the name fear of the grar List with the Kestrel, and also be the firring (painted tail) of the same List from its chestnut tail. The last name can also be claimed by several birds with bars on the tail. 3. प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य, 106.64. 4. 297.25.
