THE IBIS. 



ELEVENTH SERIES. 



Vol. I. No. 2. APRIL 1919. 



X. — Some Notes on Hieraaetus ayresi Gurney Sen. (Loplio- 

 triorchis lucani Sharpe et auctorum). By C. G. FiNcn- 

 Davies, Lt. 1st S.A.M.R., M.B.O.U. 



(Plate III.) 



Jn writing these notes on this handsome little Hawk-Eagle, 

 I do so with the idea, firstly, of doing something towards 

 reducing to order the confusion that has occurred in the 

 past between this species and Hieraaetus spilogaster Du Bus. 

 Secondly, in the hope that ornithologists at home, who have 

 better opportunities and more material to work on than 

 myself, may be able to add still further to our knowledge, 

 and clear up any obscure points. Thirdly, to place on 

 record, the occurrence of this species in South Africa. 



All my life I have been particularly interested in the 

 " Birds of Prey," and during the last ten years have devoted 

 especial attention to the South African species and have 

 filled numerous sketch-books with paintings of them in 

 various stages of plumage, and as a result of this and the 

 examination of a large number of specimens, I have got to 

 know the various species fairly well. 



In February 1909, while stationed in eastern Pondoland, 

 I received from a friend, who unfortunately was not very 

 good at skinning, a somewhat mangled skin of a small 



SER. XI. VOL. I. O 



