CIBCAETUS GALLICUS 113 



is usually to be found in such localities, though it may also be met 

 with in the vicinity of inland lakes and rivers, often at a considerable 

 distance from the sea. It is said to be rather sluggish and inactive, 

 but when pressed by hunger, displays no little dexterity on the wing. 

 It rarely attacks anything larger than a hare or rabbit, and preys 

 largely on wild-fowl, as well as on fish thrown up on the sea-shore, not 

 disdaining carrion and garbage. Its note is a shrill yelping cry. 



CIRCAETUS GALLICUS (Gmelin). 

 SHORT-TOED EAGLE. 



Faico gallicus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i, p. 2.59 (1788). 



Circaetus gallicus, Vieill. None. Diet, d'llist. Nat. vii, p. 137 (1817) ; 



Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.\,'g. 280 ; Malherhe, Cat. Rats. d'Ois. Alg. 



p. 6 (1846) ; Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 38 (1867) ; Kocnig, J. f. O. 



1888, p. 140; id. J. f. 0. 1892, p. 286 ; Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1898, p. 436. 

 Falco brachydactylus, Malherbc, Cat. Bais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 6 (1816). 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from El-Oubira, Central Tunisia. 



Above dark earth-brown, becoming blackish on the quills ; upper tail- 

 coverts with white bases and tips ; central rectrices barred with a darker 

 shade of brown ; the remaining rectrices also barred, and with white inner 

 webs and white bases ; underparts white, striped with light earth-brown on 

 the throat and breast, and slightly barred with that colour on the abdomen, 

 flanks and under tail-coverts. 



Iris, which is very large, bright golden yellow ; bill blackish ; cere and 

 feet grey ; the tarsi bare and covered with hexagonal scales. 



Total length 26 inches, wing 21, culraen 2, tarsus 3-90 



Adult female, spring, from Djebel Eshkul, North Tunisia. Similar to 

 the male, but slightly larger. 



Total length 27 inches, wing 22, culmen 2-10, tarsus 4. 



The common English name of Short-Toed Eagle is hardly well 

 chosen, a better and more appropriate one for the species being that 

 of Serpent-Eagle, the name by which the bird is known in some other 

 countries, owing to its preying chiefly on snakes and other reptiles. 



This fine bird is not at all uncommon in some parts of Tunisia, 

 particularly in the north of the Regency, where it is resident. I 

 have met with it on several occasions both in North and Central 

 Tunisia, and the naturalist Blanc informs me that be often receives 



8 VOL. II. 



