38 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
33. NISAETUS SPILOGASTER. African Hawk-Eagle. 
Aquila bonellii, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 11 (1867). 
Spizactus spilogaster, id. t. c. p. 14. 
This species bears so close a resemblance to N. fasciatus of Europe, 
that it has on more than one occasion been confounded with it. 
According to recent determinations, however, that bird is not an 
inhabitant of South Africa, and it is probable that the young speci- 
men procured by Senor Anchieta at Biballa, and determined to be 
N. fasciatus, is really not that species but the present one. _ 
Only two examples are known from the Cape Colony. One was 
taken alive in the neighbourhood of Cape Town, probably wounded 
by a gun-shot. He lived a few days in our possession, and was 
remarkably bold and fearless. He eat everything thrown to hin— 
raw meat, birds, rats, and even fish. 
Another was shot at Wynberg, in Mr, Trotter’s garden, after 
having made considerable havoc among the fowls in two previous 
visits. Mr. Andersson procured several specimens, and informs us, 
in epistold :— Its flight is heavy, but when once risen to a certain 
height it soars powerfully. It perches on trees or rocks ; but to the 
best of my belief roosts only on the latter: its food consists of small 
quadrupeds.” 
Mr. Ayres met with it in Natal and further north Dr. Dicker- 
son obtained three specimens in the Zambesi region at Magomero 
and Chibisa. Mr. Andersson writes ;—*I have obtained examples 
of this Eagle at Objimbinque, the mouth of the Onanés River, Bull’s 
Port, the Omaruru River, and Ondonga.” More recently Senor 
Anchieta has procured it at Gambos, in Mossamedes, and at Humbe, 
on the river Cunéné. 
General colour above dark-brown, approaching to black, mottled 
throughout with white ; below white, blotched longitudinally on tho 
breast and belly with dark-brown ; vent white, tinged with chestnut, 
Tail ashy-grey with a broad black bar at tip. Legs white, feathered 
to the toes, Length, 2’; wing, 17”; tail, 11”. Irides yellow; cere 
and base of mandibles greenish-yellow ; anterior portion dark horn- 
colour. 
Young.—Differs from the adult in being browner, and is uniform 
tawny rufous underneath: tail-feathers ashy-grey with seven ill. 
defined blackish cross-bands. 
Fig. Mill. Beitr. Orn, Afr. taf. 1. Gurney, Ibis, 1862, pl. 4, 
