CIKCAETUS. 355 



are rufous-hrown, black-shafted, the breast rufous with smaller 

 black spots; the abdomen banded rufous-brown and white; the 

 tail with 4 blackish cross-bars, the basal one concealed by the 

 coverts, the last subterminal. 



In young birds the upper parts are pale brown ; the head and 

 neck pale fawn-coloured, all feathers with whitish edges ; the crest 

 alone black, tipped with white ; quills as in adults ; tail with 4 

 blackish cross-bands, but narrower than in adults and less defined; 

 lower parts buff. 



Bill dull black, base plumbeous ; irides yellow ; feet yellow 

 (Davison). The feathers of the tarsus come down to the basal 

 portion of the toes, farthest on the middle toe as in /S. nepalensis. 



Length of a male 21'8 ; tail 9-5; wing 12-5; tarsus 3; bill 

 from gape 1'4. 



Distribution. Malay Peninsula, ranging into the extreme south 

 of Tenasserim and to Borneo. Nothing particular is known of the 

 habits. 



Genus CIRCAETUS, VieiUot, 1816. 



Head large ; bill moderate, much hooked, culmen roimded ; 

 nostril oval, oblique, overhung by bristles from the lores ; wings 

 long, 3rd or 4th quill longest ; primaries much exceeding second- 

 aries ; tail rather long ; tarsi naked, except near their upper 

 extremities, clad with small rounded or subhexagonal imbricate 

 scales all round. Toes short ; mid-toe without its claw about 

 half the length of the tarsus, inner and outer toes without claws 

 subequal; claws short, not much curved, subequal. 



This genus comprises five species, four exclusively African and 

 one ranging to Europe and Asia and occurring in India. 



1216. Circaetus gallicus. The Short-toed Eagle. 



Falco gallicus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i, p. 259 (1788). 



Circaetus gallicus, Blyth^Cat. i, p. 19 ; Horsf. ^ M. Cat. i, p. 51 ; Jerdon, 

 B. I. i, p. 76 ; Hume, Rough Notes, p. 217 ; id. N. ^ E. p. 39 ; 

 McMaster, J. A. S. B. xl, pt. 2, p. 207; A. Anderson, P. Z. S. 

 1872, p. 77 ; Sharps, Cat. B. M. i, p. 280 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. 

 \, p. 563, i)ls. 349, 350 ; Butler, S. F. iii, p. 446 ; v, p. 217 ; ix, 

 p. 373 ; Fairbank, S. F. iv. p. 253 ; Giirney, Ibis, 1878, p. 146 ; 

 Davidsoji ^ Wenden, S. F. vii, p. 74 ; Ball, ibid. p. 199 ; Doig, 

 ibid. p. 503 ; Hume, Cat. no. 38 ; Beid, S. F. x, p. 8 ; Davidson, 

 ibid. p. 288 ; Taylor, ibid. p. 455 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 36 ; 

 Oates in Hume's N. 8f E. 2nd ed. iii, p. 150. 



The Com7non Serpent Eagle, Jerdon ; Sampmar, H. ; Sapmaril, Beng. ; 

 Malpatar, Can. ; Pamula yedda, Tel. ; Pambu prandu, Tarn. ; Ra\oal, 

 Wagri ; Kondatele, Yerkli. 



Coloration. Adult. Forehead, lores, cheeks, and chin whitish, 

 with black bristles ; eyelids covered with white down ; ear-coverts 

 brown wdth fine black lines ; upper parts generally brown ; shafts 

 on head, back, and wing-coverts blackish; longer scapulars, 

 primary and some secondary quills blackish brown outside, the 



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