BIRDS OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA COLONY 61 



plumage; if the dark phase is the one, then the abdomen is corre- 

 spondingly dark in the subadult plumage. The former is very strik- 

 ing, the contrast between the dark breast and light abdomen being 

 very marked. A male collected at Sadi Malka (U.S.N.M. 243619) 

 is of the light phase in an early stage of the molt into subadult 

 plumage, while a female from Aclis Abeba (U.S.N.M. 243616) rep- 

 resents the extreme development of the light phase of the subadult 

 plumage, but still has many of the feathers of immaturity on the 

 top of the head. No specimen of raftor in dark subadult plumage 

 has been examined, but a male of the typical form rapax in this 

 plumage (U.S.N.M. 214081) has been studied. It is not well 

 advanced in its molt and does not show the plumage (on the upper 

 parts at least) as well as the female above mentioned. 



The dark adult plumage is more or less uniform, ver}^ dark brown. 

 Birds in fresh plumage are nearly black. The transition on the 

 breast is rather interesting as the new (adult) feathers have narrow, 

 terminal, median light streaks and tips, much like those of the sub- 

 adult plumage, only very much smaller. These tips wear off, leaving 

 the breast uniformly dark. 



The typical form Aquila ra'pax rapax is said to be much more 

 reddish in all plumages than raptor. This is true when series are 

 compared, but it does not always hold for individuals. This seems 

 especially true in the juvenal plumage. Birds from Kenya Colony 

 are more or less intermediate, but seem closer to the southern rapax 

 than to raptor. 



The specimens collected present no unusual size measurements. 

 The females have wings of from 530-563; the males, from 503- 

 519 millimeters. 



Besides the specimens collected, Mearns noted this eagle at the 

 following localities: Aletta, March 7-13, 4 birds; Loco, March 13-15, 

 2; Gato River, March 29 to May 17, 20 noted; Bodessa and Sagon 

 River, June 3-6, 4 seen; Wobok, June 18, 25 birds; near Saru, June 

 19, 10 ; Karsa Barecha, June 21, 4 seen ; Guaso Nyiro River, July 31 

 to August 3, 2 ; Athi River, August 29, 2 birds seen and a nest found. 

 Mearns made the following entry in his journal at Adis Abeba, 

 January 7. 



Several were noted along the railway below Dire Daoua. These birds were 

 quite numerous and stupidly tame in the town of Dire Daoua where we col- 

 lected four sliius. They fed on dead camels in company with dogs, vultures, 

 and crows. When satisfied, they flew to the nearest mimosa trees and sat 

 through most of tlie day paying no regard to the people passing by. Some- 

 times they betook themselves to high flights, uttering loud cries, and chasing 

 one another, probably in courtship. About 20 miles below Adis Abeba we 

 found a pair of eagles and a pair of yellow-billed kites building nests in a 

 mimosa tree beneath which we rested ourselves. This wns on December 26. 



