141 
Eagle’s) ; one egg is described as mottled closely throughout with 
ochreous brown, but the ordinary type Mr. Hewitson seems to 
consider to be a closely mottled, dingy reddish ground with 
more or less deep red, specks, spots, and small blotches. Three 
eggs figured by this gentleman, measure according to his figures 
(usually very exact) 3 & 2°35, 3°13 & 2°38, 2°95 x 2°35. 
To Dr. Jerdon’s range of this species, we must add N. W. 
Africa. Col. Drummond Hay, I think, mentioned it as being 
found in Tangiers, and Mr. Tyrwhitt in the Ibis for 1867 re- 
marks, that “it breeds at Tetuan, though not in great numbers.” 
Mr. Tristram found it throughout the Barbary provinces, chief- 
ly in the various dayats, or unimproveable oases, where it was 
breeding on Terebinth trees (Pistacia Atlantica,) making a huge 
platform of sticks on the topmost boughs. In one dayat in 
particular, that of Terebinet, a day’s journey north of Berragan 
in the Nizab, the birds were almost gregarious, no less than 
seven pairs having their nests in one wood, described as “ extend- 
ing over many acres.” 
I append measurements and a description of a magnificent 
young female, shot in the south of France, and now in Col. 
Tytler’s collection, in what is known in England as the ring-tail 
stage of plumage. 
Dimensions. Length, 41.(?) Wing, 27°63. Tail, 16-25. 
Tarsus, 4°38. Mid toe (to root of claw), 0.3. Inner toe, 1°94. 
Hind toe, 1°81. The two latter, with the tarsus, enormously 
stout. 
Mid toe claw. Outer toe claw. Inner toe claw. Hind toe claw. 
Length along curve, 1°81 1:31 2°44 2°75 
Circumference at base, 1°13 0°88 15 1:53 
Bill along curve, from edge of cere, 2; from gape, 2°75. 
Height at edge of cere, 1. Width at gape, 1:94 (7) Length 
of cere, 0°91. 
Description. The bird is rich purplish brown, the feathers of 
the occiput and nape, narrowly pointed and tipped with rufous 
fawn. Scapulars and secondaries much darker, the coverts light- 
er, primaries almost black. Basal half of the tail pure white, 
(hence the English name of ring-tail) then a broad, irregular, 
mottled grey band and the rest nearly black. All but the first 
three primaries have much white at the base. Underneath, 
the same purple brown, much variegated, especially on the 
breast, and lower tail coverts with white, all the feathers being 
pure white at the base. 
‘he enormous strength of the tarsi, feet, and claws, distin- 
guish it at once from the finest Imperiadis, but the bill is not, it 
seems to me, proportionally stronger. 
