LOPHOAETUS OCCIPITALIS. 41 
Adult.—General colour above, chest and neck dark grey-brown ; 
beneath white, spotted with very dark-brown ; thighs barred with 
the same; large wing feathers, dark brown: the lesser ones and 
tail transversely barred with grey. Talons black, much curved and 
strong; legs feathered to the toes. Length, 2’ 7”; wing, 1’ 11”; 
tail, 12”. 
The young bird is pale brown, and is much lighter everywhere 
than the adult, the under surface being almost entirely white. 
Fig. Smith, Dll. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 42 (adult). Levaill. Ois. 
d’ Afr. pl. 1 (young). 
36. LOPHOAETUS OCCIPITALIS. African Crested Eagle. 
Spizaetus occipitalis, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 13 (1867). 
This beautiful Eagle is a bird of the eastern districts, being 
decidedly more common there than elsewhere. Victorin procured it 
at the Knysna in July, August, and October, and Mr. Atmore, to 
whom we are indebted for specimens, describes it as not uncommon 
in the neighbourhood of Traka. 
We saw it in some abundance in the forest country about the Kat- 
river, Kowie, Fish-river, &c. It did not appear to be shy, but 
allowed us to ride past it on several occasions. 
Dr. Atherstone notes it from the neighbourhood of Grahams- 
town, and Mr. T. C. Atmore procured it near Hlands’ Posh Mr. 
Rickard states that he got three specimens at Port Elizabeth, and 
found the bird very plentiful at Hast London. Mr. Ayres records it 
as common in Natal, and Dr. Kirk informs us that in the Zambesi 
country it “frequents the neighbourhood of rivers. It was not 
observed in the mountains, but was common in the Shiré and Zambesi 
Valleys.” 
It has not been recorded by Mr. Andersson from Damara Land, 
nor has Senor Anchieta met with it in Benguela, but a specimen 
from Angola is in the Lisbon Museum. 
Mr. Atmore writes :—“ The crested Eagle is a gentleman of low 
tastes. One was eating an owl (S. capensis) the other day. Tom 
could easily have shot him, but mistook him for a Buteo jackal. He 
is not uncommon about George, and not at all difficult to get at: sits 
for hours on a naked pole. I saw several during my survey, and 
might have bagged at least four, but had no gun with me.” Mn. 
