TIIK milDS OF PORTUGAL. 189 



I entertained considtrablG doubts, -wlieii in Lisbon, whether 

 the only specimen of this bird whicli I saw tliere was a 

 genuine Imperial Eagle, inasmuch as I could not perceive a 

 single trace of white on the scaj)uhiry feathers; and tliough 

 Professor du Bocage, whoso attention I called to the lact, 

 accounted for it by declaring the bird in question to be 

 immature, I always considered that this distinctive charac- 

 teristic of the species was never wholly absent, though, 

 doubtless, it is more conspicuous in adult birds. This ob- 

 servation I published in the ' Ibis,' when the learned editor, 

 Professor Newton, added in a note that in his opinion the 

 white spot was usually more conspicuous in the immature 

 bird. In answer to this. Professor Barbosa du Bocage, in 

 his recent review of my paper, points out that, in the early 

 periods of its life, Aquila heliaca presents few, if any, traces 

 of white in the scapular region, the large white spot whence 

 it derives the name by which it is known of the Imperial 

 Eagle, being a characteristic of maturity ; and then the 

 Professor supports his view with the testimony of Temminck,* 

 and of Deglandj'l" and Gerbe ; and proceeds to prove that 

 the specimen in question can belong to no other species. 

 Moreover, he adds that, on a careful examination, traces of 

 white may be distinguished on the scapular feathers, though 

 they might easily be overlooked, and concludes that it is, 

 without doubt, a veritable A. heliaca; a conclusion in 

 which, on such strong evidence, I most unhesitatingly con- 

 cur. There can, indeed, be no question that the bird is as 

 well known in Portugal as it is in Spain ; it is even said to 

 be common in the provinces of Beira and Alemtejo, from the 

 latter of which Professor du Bocage states that he has more 

 than once received living examples. 



G. fAQUiLA BoNELLii (Tcmm.), ' Bonclli's Eagle.' 



In addition to those in the Lisbon Museum, there are 

 specimens of this species in the Museum at Coimbra, where 

 it is said to be especially abundant. 



* Manuel cC Omithologie, torn. i. p. 27. 

 t Oniithologic Europctnnc, torn. i. p. 25. 



