IN THE NORWICH MUSEUM. . 17 
Leaving the American Eagle-Buzzards, we come to 
the genus Sflornis, the species of which are natives 
of the countries of South Eastern Asia, and of some of 
the Islands of the Indian Ocean, and are all adorned 
with a peculiarly spotted plumage, especially on the 
under parts, which at once distinguishes them from 
the other birds of this group. The following descrip- 
tion of the mode of obtaining its prey practised by 
Spilornis bacha, the species which inhabits Ceylon, 
has been recorded by Mr. E. L. Layard, who was 
long a resident in that island. 
‘It frequents the borders of tanks and morasses, feeding on 
frogs, snakes, and lizards. Concealed in the dark foliage of 
some overhanging tree, it heedlessly marks the smaller frogs 
approach the grassy margin of the pool. Suddenly the large 
green bull frog (Rava m2labarica) uplifts its head, and utters its 
booming call. The Sfcornis is now all attention, with out- 
stretched neck it fixes its glaring eyes on its desired prey, lower 
and lower it bends, for the frog with a croak of triumph gains a 
log, but a shadow glides over him ; in vain he crouches, and his 
colour becomes a dull brown, so closely resembling the log, that 
human eyes would take him for a knot in the decaying timber ; 
with noiseless rapidity the barred-wings pass on, and the log is 
untenanted. Fast clutched in the talons of his merciless foe the 
prey is borne to the well-known perch, and a sharp blow on the 
back of the head from the bill of the bird deprives it of life.” 
Nearly allied to Spi/ornis is the genus C7rcaétus, all 
the species of which are natives of the African Con- 
tinent, but one of them (Circaétus gallicus) also occurs 
in the southern countries of Europe and Asia. The 
B 
