i 2 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



rock -rabbit (Hyrax Capen-ns). It also attacks the klipspringer ante- 

 lope (A . Oreotragus), darting at them when perched on pinnacles of the 

 rocks (their favourite position), and hurling them headlong into the 

 abyss below, into which they descend to feed on them at their leisure. 

 They are also accused of killing lambs and sickly sheep, and carrying 

 off the smaller antelopes from the low country. 



Mr. Atmore writes, July 21st, 1864 : " Fancy my knowing of two 

 nests of A. Verreauxii, but in such inaccessible places that no one can 

 get at them. Large nests in rocks about 1000 feet high, just on a ledge 

 300 or 400 feet from the top. " 



An egg brought me "by Mr. Hugo, of Fransch Hoek, is chalky 

 white, mottled throughout, and especially at the obtuse end, with 

 rust-coloured and light-coloured spots. Axis, 3" 5'"; diam., 2" 4"'. 



Le Vaillant evidently founded his " CafFre '' upon this species, and, 

 with his usual falsehood, enters into a long description of habits which 

 the bird does not follow. In fact, he never obtained a specimen : only 

 saw it at a distance, and invented his account. Had he secured one, 

 he never could have stated that its talons were not fitted to carry away 

 its prey : a single glimpse of the powerful, curved, sharp claws is 

 enough to dispel this illusion. 



Genus SP1ZAETUS, Vieillot. 



Bill moderate, the culmen straight at the base, and much 

 arched at the tip, which is hooked and acute ; the sides much 

 compressed, and the lateral margins festooned ; the nostrils 

 large and rather rounded. Wings moderate, reaching to 

 half the length of the tail, with the fourth and fifth quills 

 equal and longest. Tail long, and slightly rounded at the 

 end. Tarsi slender, much larger than the middle toe, and 

 plumed to the base of the toes. Toes long, strong, the inner 

 one much longer than the outer, which is united to the 

 middle one by a membrane ; all covered above with small 

 scales, except at the apex, where there are a few transverse 

 ones, and eacU toe armed with a long, strong, and acute claw. 



14. SpizaetUS CoronatUS. (Linn.) Aquila Albe- 

 scens, Daud. ; A. Goronata, Smith ; FaJco Coronatm, 

 Linn. ; Le Blanchard, Le Vail., PL 3 ; Crowned Eagk, 

 Edw., PL 224. ; Imperial Eagle, Griffith. 



EASILY distinguished from S. Bellicosus, and the other more 

 common species, by the comparative roundness and shortness 

 of the wings, and great length of tail. The head, crest, 

 neck, and under parts yellowish white ; thighs varied with 

 blackish brown lines and spots. Feathers on back brown, 

 deeply margined with white ; tail barred, black, and grey ; 

 feathers on occiput very long, forming a crest ; legs powerful, 



