FALCONIDiE. 1 1 



12. Aquila Bonellii. (Temm.) Pl. Oo]., 289 ; Aquila 

 Fasciata, Vieil. ; Degl. Orn. Europe, I., p., 28. ; Bonap. 

 Consp , I , p. 14; A. Intermedia, Bonell. 



General colour above, dark-brown, approaching to black, 

 mottled throughout with white ; below white, blotched 

 longitudinally on the breast and belly with dark-brown, 

 edged with light chestnut ; vent white, tinged with chestnut. 

 Tail barred. Legs white, feathered to the toes. Length, 2' ; 

 wing, 17" ; tail, 11". Irides yellow; cere and base of man- 

 dibles greenish-yellow ; anterior portion dark horn -colour. 



This eagle is subject to great variation. The above descrip- 

 tion is taken from a fine example in the possession of Mr. C. 

 J. Andersson, killed at Otjimbinque. One in the S. A. 

 Museum is deep rufous below, blotched with black, and the 

 upper parts are brown. This bird is probably in young 

 plumage. 



Previous to the acquisitiou of this specimen, which was identified by 

 Mr. J. H. Gurney (A. Bonellii), had never been observed, so far as is 

 known. South of the Equator. It was shot at Wyuberg, in Mr. 

 Trotter's garden, after having made considerable havoc among the 

 fowls in two previous visits. Mr. Andersson procured several speci- 

 mens, and informs me, in epistold, that " its flight is heavy, but when 

 .once risen to a certain height it soars powerfully. It perches on treea 

 or rocks ; but to the best of my belief roosts only on the latter : its 

 food consists of small quadrupeds." 



13. Aquila VerreaUXii, Less., Cent. Zool, t. 38 ; 

 A. Vulturina, Shaw ; Le Caffre, De Vaill., PI. 6. ; 

 Lassie Vanger and Berghaan of Colonists. 



Jet black, with half the back and rump white ; legs feather- 

 ed to the toes, which are bright yellow ; claws black, very 

 strong, and curved. Length, 2' 9" ; wing, 2' 1" ; tail, 13". 

 The young bird is mottled brown, inclining here and there 

 to black, according to its age. 



Verreaux's eagle is not uncommon throughout the colony, wherever 

 rocky precipitous mountains are to be found. In these it fixes its 

 eyrie, sallying out daily at early dawn in quest of food, and returning 

 in the evening. One pair had their hauilt in some of the rocks of the 

 " Devil's Hill," near Cape Town, and sailed over the "Camp Ground" 

 to and fro, night and morning, with the regularity of clock-work, to 

 their hunting grounds somewhere on the Cape flats. I have never 

 ascended Table Mountain without encountering a pair near the gorge 

 which opens on to the top, but they never suffered me to get within 

 range. 



It is called " Dassie Vanger" (coney-eater) and "Berghaan'' (moun- 

 tain-cock by the colonists, from feeding principally on the coney, or 



