FROM THE EAST. 507 



Eagles flying along the mountain-ridges. The breeding- 

 season seemed to be just beginning, for next day one of these 

 eagles, while chasing another, flew so low over our caravan 

 that I brought it down with small shot. 



10. AQUILA PENNATA. Pygmy Eagle. 



In Africa I saw and shot a Pygmy Eagle of the quite dark, 

 almost black variety. It was in the palm-groves near the 

 town of Sohag, where, crowded on a few trees, large numbers 

 of Crows, Ravens, Kites, Night-Herons, Falcons, and Pigeons 

 assemble every evening for their night's rest. It was dark, 

 but still I could see that it was not a Kite. The bird was 

 already fast asleep on the bottom branches of a low tamarisk. 



In Palestine I saw such numbers of Pygmy Eagles that I 

 could not believe my eyes. They were on migration, and 

 every day, in all parts of the country, one could see them 

 flying in large flocks, often as many as sixty in loose order, 

 but still following each other. I also several times noted the 

 curious fact that this Eagle travels in company with the 

 Stork, not merely following the huge flocks of those birds, 

 but even mixing with them. Both hunt after reptiles and 

 insects, and seek the best places for feeding during migration. 

 In the Jordan valley we once saw a great many Pygmy 

 Eagles perched on the low trees and bushes in company with 

 the Short-toed Eagles. 



11. PANDION HALIAETUS. Osprey. 



One sees this Eagle on the Nile every day, on the large 

 lake of Birket-el-Karun it is even very common. Ospreys 

 flew round the shores of the island Bezire-Karun the whole 

 day long, and in the afternoon often as many as ten together 

 sat resting for digestive purposes on the rocky coast, in com- 

 pany with the flocks of Herons, Gulls, and Pelicans. It was 

 also often observed on the lake of Menzaleh and along the 



