FALCONS — EAGLES 65 



northern Africa. Its European range comprises Spain, southern Italy, Greece, the 

 Dobrudscha, and southern Russia. It breeds as far north as Styria and occasion- 

 ally appears as a straggler in the British Isles. In August and September it 

 migrates to South Africa, whence it returns in March and April to its breeding 

 grounds. Although it may sometimes eat lizards, mice, and small birds, its principal 

 food appears to be the larger insects, especially locusts, and on this account it is 

 protected in Turkey and Russia. In size the lesser kestrel measures about 12 inches. 

 The head and tail are grey, the chestnut of the back is not spotted, the claws 

 are white, and the feet, lores, and eyelids yellow. The beak is deeply notched. 



With respect to the eagles, the golden eagle is a breeding bird 

 over the greater part of Asia. Bonelli's hawk-eagle (Nisaetus 

 fasciatus) inhabits southern Europe, north-western Africa, and Asia as far east as 

 Madras. Though occasionally building on river-banks, it nests chiefly on rocky 

 cliffs, which form its usual resorts. From these it descends to the plains to seek 

 its prey; and, although a somewhat roving species, never migrates. An active, 

 powerful bird, quicker in flight than other eagles, it may be distinguished from 

 them by its slender form, long tail, and the buff colour of the under-parts, as 

 well as by carrying its body more horizontally and inclining it more forward. 

 It is of fearless appearance, and as courageous as it looks. In India it is known as 

 the peacock-killer, and will not only kill pea-fowl and birds of that size, but 

 even attack the golden eagle and deprive it of its prey. In length it measures 

 about 26 inches. The feathers of the head and back are mostly white at their 

 bases, the white increasing as the bird grows older, so that it becomes pre- 

 dominant in old age. The buff under-parts are narrowly streaked with dark brown, 

 the cere and feet are yellow, and the toes and claws noticeably large. Another 

 member of the same group, the booted hawk-eagle (A r . pennatus) is mostly found in 

 the forest-regions of the south of Europe, ranging thence eastwards to India and 

 Ceylon. Nesting as a rule in small colonies, where the forest offers a wide view, 

 it uses by preference the abandoned nests of other birds-of-prey ; but when it builds 

 a nest this is large, bulky, and finished with green branches. The booted eagle is 

 exceedingly courageous during the brooding-period, which lasts for four weeks, 

 and until the young are fully fledged. In habits the male differs from other 

 birds-of-prey by its dove-like gentleness, and also by the way in which it returns 

 to its mate, perching close by on a branch, and then walking slowly towards the 

 nest with drooping head and puffed-up crop, like a pigeon, uttering all the while 

 a sonorous " kei kei." When hunting for prey in the forest with the same skill 

 as a hawk, this eagle hovers rather nearer the ground, capturing as it goes 

 starlings and pigeons, but more especially lizards and frogs. When loaded with its 

 prey, it is often attacked by kites, to which it occasionally yields its booty. 

 Unlike its kindred, this eagle has a sort of song, consisting of alternating notes, 

 comparable more to the voice of a singing bird than to the shrill scream of a bird- 

 of-prey. It is only 24 inches long, not quite so large as a buzzard, but in shape is 

 a small replica of the golden eagle. A white patch on the shoulder is its most 

 characteristic mark, other features being the pointed feathers on the neck, the 

 bluntness and roundness of the other feathers, and the fact that the tail is com- 

 pletely covered by the wings when at rest. 

 vol. 11. — 5 



