172 
very tips of the longest of the latter. None of the quills, except 
the last three primaries with more than the faintest trace of pale 
tippings, only a few minute specks on the scapulars. Scarcely any 
pale centering to the breast feathers, and far less of this on the 
abdomen than in any of the preceding’ (viz. Nos. 2, 4,5—10). 
Further I may add that No. 2 male, and No. 6 female, were 
identical in plumage with No. 4, though No. 2 was smaller and 
No. 6 a little larger. No. 7, a female, the smallest obtained, was 
much the same type as No. 5 as regards the amount of spotting ; 
in other respects differed from Nos. 2, 4 and 6, but little. The 
longer thigh coverts were, however, almost wholly fulvous white, 
the spots being so large as to occupy nearly the whole surface 
of the feathers. Nos. 8 and 9 were between No. 7 and Nos. 
2, 4 and 6) the throats and breasts being perhaps a purer and 
darker brown. 
In all the specimens of the first and second stages of plumage 
that I have examined, the ovaries and testicles have been so 
little developed, as to render the discrimination of the sexes, a 
matter requiring cae and a magnifying glass. In all speci- 
mens of the third stage of plumage, they have been well 
developed. 
I think I ought to note, that my valued friend, Mr. Brookes, 
differs from me as to the first stage described, really pertaining 
to this species. He believes it to be distinct. For my part, the 
exact structural correspondence, the possession of more or less 
intermediate forms, and the fact that in a part of the country 
where the Spotted Eagle is common, these pale buff birds were 
pointed out by native fowlers, as the young of the species, 
incline me to the opinion already expressed of the specific 
identity of the two forms. 
Mr. C. Farman, in the Ibis for 1869 gives the following 
pas in regard to the nidification of the Spotted Eagle in 
ulgaria, 
* In the spring of 1865, I observed a nest of this bird placed 
on an Ash tree overhanging the stream at the southern entrance 
of the Pravidy valley: it was more neatly put together than 
most of the Eagles’ nests, and was warmly and softly lined with 
the blossoms of the Ash tree; it contained one young bird just 
hatched, and two eggs already cracked by the young birds 
within. On the edge of the nest were the two fore legs of a 
Leveret.” 
