10 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



13. Circaetus pectoralis, Smith. Black-breasted Harrier-Eagle. 



Circaetus pectoralis, Strickland's Orn. Syn. No. 75. 

 thoracicus, Layard's Cat. No. 18. 



On March 1st, 1865, I observed an adult of this 

 species soaring very low, just in front of my window*; 

 and 1 have subsequently killed this bird in Damara 

 Land. 



[I am not aware that any plate of this fine species has as yet 

 been published. Circaetus cinereus of Vieillot, of which C. 

 funereus of Riippell is a synonym, is a somewhat larger species, 

 and is darker in its colouring than the immature bird ot 

 C. pectoralis, with which some naturalists have supposed it to be 

 identical. C. pectoralis has been ascertained by Mr. Ayres to 

 feed chiefly on reptiles. ED.] 



14. HelotarsUS ecaudatus (Baud.). Rufous-backed Bateleur Eagle. 



Le Bateleur, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pis. 7 & 8. 

 Helotarsus ecaudatus, Layard's Cat. No. 23. 



Chapman's Travels in S. Aft., App. p. 361. 



This is probably the most common Eagle in Damara 

 and Great Namaqua Land ; it is usually found in plains, 

 and builds its nest on trees. The nest consists of a large 

 mass of sticks pretty firmly bound together without any 

 kind of lining. Several pairs bred in the neighbourhood 

 of my place at Objimbinque ; but their nests were always 

 exceedingly difficult of access, on account of the terribly 

 thorny nature of the trees on which they constructed 

 their eyries. 



The iris of this species is of a magnificently brilliant 

 and transparent brown ; the legs are a light orange ; the 

 basal part of the bill a rich dark orange, the tip black, 

 and the intermediate part yellow. 



* Probably at Objimbinque. 





