046 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



The Bonelli's breeds in cliffs as a rule, but does not disdain trees when no 

 cliffs are available. The nest is the usual structure of sticks lined with grass 

 or leaves. The eggs are white with a faint greenish tinge, sometimes unspotted 

 and at others marked with brown blotches or streaks and measure 2" 78 by 2* 1 

 and are usually laid from December to February. (Blanford.) 



Type D. 



Family FALCONIDZE. 



Sub-family FALCONING. 



Genus Hiercetus. 



No. 1208. Hieraetus pennatus, The Booted Eagle. 



Characteristics. 

 Colouration. 



Measurements. 



Habits, etc. 



Size medium, length imder 22"; tarsus 2J to 2|". 



There are two very distinct phases of plumage in 

 this species, but as the bird is absolutely immistakable 

 from its size and by the length of its tarsi, it is not 

 necessary to give the details of plumage. In the 

 light phase the top of the head, nape, sides and back 

 of neck are a pale buff with a rufescent tinge, each 

 feather with a darker centre. Forehead and lores 

 buffy white, a narrow blackish streak running be- 

 tween the eyes and the lores, and a similar streak 

 both under and over. The whole of the upper plumage 

 varies between a very pale buffy or rufous white to 

 wood brown, darkest on the primaries, which are 

 blackish, but the deeper shades of brown predominate 

 on the upper surface generally. 



The lower surface is much lighter being a buffy 

 white, with dark streaks on the feathers, particu- 

 larly on the chin and upper part of the breast. " Young 

 birds have the head and neck rufous brown or dull 

 rufous, sometimes dark brown. The upper plumage 

 brown, as in adults but with dark shaft stripes ; tail 

 coverts whitish ; lower parts either dark brown or 

 pale rufous, with blackish streaks, except on the lower 

 abdomen tail greyish brown above, paler below 

 more or less distinctly banded and pale tipped." 

 (Blanford.) 



The dark or melanistic phase of plumage is some- 

 what similar to the yoimg plumage above described. 

 Whether the dark phase is retained for any number 

 of years it is not known, but birds are known to breed 

 in it. 



BiU pale blue at base, blackish at tip; irides pale 

 brown ; cere, gape and feet yellow. 



Length 19 to 211"; tail 8| to 9" ; wing 15 to 16"; 

 tarsus 2J". 



This species is said to be a winter visitor to India 

 and Blanford only records one nest as having been 

 taken and Hume says that nothing is known of its 

 nidification in India. The bird is by no means rare 

 aid breeds freely in the higher Himalayas. I have 

 found its nest in Bhadarwa (Kashmir), in Tehri Gurhwal 

 and in Bushahr (Simla District). One pair built for 



