78 BIRD GALLERY. 



reptiles, while small mammals, birds, frogs, fish, crabs, and insects are 

 also devoured. Another Oriental genus is represented by the Grey- 

 faced Buzzard-Eagle {Butastur indlcus) (916) ; and the Bateleur Eagle 

 [Case 51.] [Helotarsus ecaudatus) (917), which is placed next it, is a peculiar short- 

 tailed African form, and with its fiery -red face and feet is one of the 

 handsomest Birds of Prey. 



Next come the grand Sea-Eagles {Halia'etus) , which are fully 

 represented by no fewer than five species. The White-tailed Sea-Eagle 

 or Erne {H. albicillus) (918), which formerly bred round the coasts of the 

 British Isles, is now probably only an autumn- and winter-visitor to 

 our shores; the White-headed or Bald Sea-Eagle [H. leucocephalus) 

 (919) is the North American representative form, and the handsomest 

 of all is perhaps the Vociferous Sea-Eagle {H. vocifer) (920) from 



[Central Africa. Few kinds of fish, flesh, fowl, or carrion come amiss to these 

 Caee 1 . 7 > , 



•^ birds. In the large Central Case a very fine series of Steller's Sea- 

 Eagle {H. pelagicus) (922) [PI. XV.] is exhibited; the adult male, 

 with the pure white shoulders and tail, is an unusually light-coloured 

 specimen of its kind and no doubt a very old bird. 



[Case 52.] jj^ ^^j^jg Case are placed the Kites and Honey-Buzzards : commencing 

 on the floor we find the handsome chestnut and white Brahminy Kites 

 {Haliastur) (923, 924), the lovely Swallow- tailed Kite {Elanoides fur- 

 catus) (925) from America, and the Common and Black Kites (Milvus 

 milvus and M. korschun) (928, 927). Though once a common bird in 

 Great Britain, only a few pairs of the Common Kite or '^ Gled " have 

 escaped destruction and nest in this country at the present time ; 

 the Black Kite has occurred twice as an accidental straggler to our 

 shores. 



[Case 62.] Baza suhcristata (928) represents the rather large genus of Cuckoo- 

 Falcons, extending from India through the Malay Peninsula to 

 Australia, Madagascar, and Africa. They are all rare birds, and 

 are remarkable in having two " teeth " in the upper mandible. Next 

 to it will be seen Swainson's Kite {Gampsonyx swainsoni) (929), a 

 beautifully marked diminutive form from Central and South America, 

 the curious Hook-billed Kites (Leptodon) (930), their slender-billed 

 ally [Rostrhamus leucopygus) (932), and the handsome Lead-coloured 

 Falcon [Ictinia plumbea) (933), all from the same continent. After the 

 Square-tailed species (^Lophoictinia isura) (934) from Australia, we come 

 to the Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus) ; a specimen of E. caruleus (936) 

 is said to have been obtained in Ireland in 1862, but the evidence 

 appears to be insufficient. Lastly the curious South- American Double- 

 toothed Falcon {Harpagus bidentatus) (937), which resembles the 

 Cuckoo- Falcons {Baza) in having the upper mandible doubly notched, 

 is worthy of special notice. 



