34 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
ever 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 haunt in some of the 
vocks 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. We have never ascended Table Mountain without encountering 
a pair near the gorge which opens on to the top, but they never 
suffered us to get within range. 
It is called ‘ Dassie Vanger” (Coney-eater) and “ Berghaan” 
(mountain-cock) by the colonists, from feeding principally on the 
coney, or rock-rabbit (Hyrax capensis). It also attacks the klip- 
springer antelope (A. oreotragus), darting at them when perched on 
pinnacles of the rocks (their favourite position), and hurling them 
headlong into the abyss below, into which they descend to feed on 
them at their leisure. They are also accused of killing lambs and 
sickly sheep, and carrying off the smaller antelopes from the low 
country. 
Mr. Atmore writes, July 21st, 1864: “Fancy my knowing of two 
nests of A. verreauxii, but in such inaccessible places that no one 
can get at them. Large nests in rocks about 1000 feet high, just 
on a ledge 300 or 400 feet from the top.” Messrs. H. Jackson and 
A. F. Ortlepp have both sent eggs of this fine eagle. The latter 
writes: ‘‘ These birds lay about the beginning of July, on ledges of 
steep precipices, though not always, as I have heard of their nests 
in § Paijbos’-bushes (Zthus lucida) along the Zeekoe river. Hegs 
two. For some time after leaving the shell, the young birds are 
quite white, more like balls of swan’s down than birds. All our 
* eagles are here called ‘ Lammerfangers.’ ” 
An egg brought to us by Mr. Hugo, of Fransch Hoek, is chalky 
white, mottled throughout, and especially at the obtuse end, with 
rust-coloured and light-coloured spots. Axis, 3’’ 5’; diam. 2’’ 4°", 
The title of Aquila verreauci must be retained for this Eagle in 
preference to the unsatisfactory one of vulturina of Daudin. The 
latter name was bestowed on the “ Caffre” of Levaillant. He appa- 
rently founded the “ Caffre” on the present bird, and enters into a 
long description of habits which the bird does not follow. In fact, 
he never obtained a specimen: only saw it at a distance; and invented 
his account. Had he secured one, he never could have stated that 
