160 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
Distribution: Inhabits most parts of India and Central 
Asia, straggling into South-eastern Russia, and Asia Minor. 
Habitat : Wooded countr# generally not far from water. 
Genus CIRCAETUS. 
SHORT-TOED OR SERPENT-EAGLE. 
Circaetus gallicus (Gme/). 
Adult: Above ashy-brown, with a faint purplish gloss on 
back ; some of the feathers with paler margins; head very 
broad, usually paler than the rest of upper parts ; region round 
base of bill whitish; superciliary streak of black, bristly 
feathers ; wing-quills black or deep brown, their inner webs 
marked with white; wing-coverts pale tipped ; tail chocolate- 
brown, crossed by three deep blackish bands ; deneath white ; 
the throat streaked with brown, and showing distinct black 
shafts to the feathers ; chest and flanks spotted or barred with 
pale brown ; bill bluish-black; cere, legs, feet and irides yellow. 
Length 26 to 28 inches; culmen 2; wing 20°5 to 21°5; tail 
12's; tarsus (bare) 3°5 to 4. 
Young: Above dull brown ; feathers on nape conspicuously 
white at base; most of back feathers and wing-coverts edged 
with pale brown ; wings and tail much as in adult, but the lat- 
ter tipped with white and its under surface whitish ; feathers of 
throat and chest pale dirty brown, with white bases and black 
median shaft lines ; rest of under parts more boldly spotted than 
in adults. 
Distribution: Resident in Central and Southern Europe, 
Northern Africa and in many parts of Asia. 
Habitat : Thick woods or damp jungle. 
Genus ASTUR. 
GOSHAWK. 
Astur palumbarius (Zzzz). 
Adult: General colour of upper parts shaded earthy-brown, 
darker on crown, which is dordered, especially on nape, with 
