110 BRITISH BIRDS. 
almost like eggs of the Osprey, whilst others are scarcely spotted at all. 
Not unfrequently the spots are confluent, occasionally at the larger end, 
but more often at the smaller end. ‘The colour of the spots is generally 
a brownish brick-red ; but sometimes they are a rich dark blood-red. The 
underlying spots are dull purplish, and seldom very conspicuous ; occa- 
sionally, however, they are a chief feature of very handsome eggs. 
The general colour of the Lesser Spotted Eagle is a uniform brown, the 
colour of the newly moulted feathers being rich chocolate-brown, that of 
the old abraded ones greyish brown. Bill dark horn-colour, cere and feet 
yellow, claws black; irides yellowish brown. The female resembles the 
male, but is larger in size. Birds in first plumage have a rusty patch on 
the nape, which gradually fades as the bird gets older; the scapulars, 
wing-coverts, and innermost secondaries have a terminal greyish-white spot. 
The underparts are streaked with rufous-brown. 
