630 JO URNAL, B 0MB A T NA TUBAL HIS T. SO CIETY, Vol. XX VI. 



the European community and soon damps the ardour of many a 

 promising young naturalist newly arrived in the country. 



It seems a pity that our English nomenclature is not more helpful 

 either. It is distinctly puzzling to the student who has acquired the 

 knowledge that all true Eagles and Hawk-Eagles can be recognised 

 at a glance by their feathered tarsi, to suddenly come upon " Short 

 toed Eagles ", " Serpent Eagles " and even " Buzzard Eagles " which 

 not only have a naked tarsus, but as in the last case have not 

 even the size or presence to carry off the name ; the White-eyed 

 Buzzard Eagle being about the size of a crow. However, we are not 

 here to discuss nomenclature, and these papers are written with a 

 view to simplify identification. 



There is a vast difference between the Vultures and the Eagles, 

 even far up in the sky, and it takes very little practice to recognise 

 one from the other. The flight of the JEagle is always a good deal 

 " lighter " than that of the Vulture and the tail extends a little 

 further beyond the line of the wings, than does that of a Vulture. 

 The wings too appear to be narrower for their length, and even 

 when soaring will often be seen to bend slightly from the tips. 



At close quarters the feathered head separates the Eagle from the 

 Vulture and the completely feathered tarsi, back and front, from all 

 other diurnal birds of prey. Some of the Owls too have feathered 

 tarsi, but there can be no confusion between an Owl and an Eagle. 



Plumage is a most variable factor and unless it is possible to 

 describe each and every phase of plumage minutely, it is extremely 

 difficult to recognise a bird by the description of its plumage alone. 

 In these papers I have taken the descriptions from the Fauna of 

 British India and in many cases from Hume's " Rough Notes," as 

 they cannot well be improved upon, but have not given them very 

 fully. Since other factors are given which are much safer to rely 

 upon than the plumage, the latter has only been touched on in a 

 general way. 



Key to the Types. 



Type. Size. Characteristics. 



J). jMedium to large. Head and neck fully feathered ; tarsus feathered 



back and front to the division of the toes or very 



neai'ly. 

 E. Medium . . Head and neck fully feathered ; tarsus feathered 



in front only, to the base of the toes, naked behind. 



Key to the Species. 



Type. Name. Characteristics. 



i)". Aqula chrysaetus, a. Primaries exceeding secondaries by more 

 The Golden Eagle, than length of tarsus ; b. claws much curved, 

 hind claw longest ; c. primaries in closed wing 

 reaching to within an inch or so of tail; d. Nostril 

 elliptical, higher than broad ; e. tarsus 4" in length ; 

 f. hind claw without toe over 2J". 



