FALCONID^. 17 



acute, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly -equal 

 and longest. Tail moderate and rounded. Tarsi short, 

 strong, covered in front with transverse narrow scales, and 

 with small irregular ones posteriorly and on the sides. Toes 

 long, mostly covered above with transverse scales ; the claws 

 long, curved, and acute. 



21. Haliaetus Vocifer. Faico Fotifor, Shaw; 



$i Le Vocifar, Le Vail., PL 4 ; Groote-visch-vanger or 

 f- 7 tf Witte-visch-vanger of Colonists. 



HEAD, breast, and top of back and tail pure white ; wings 

 and back nearly black, the larger feathers edged with white ; 

 upper parts of the wings reddish-brown. Belly and thighs 

 deep-reddish brown. Cere and legs yellow. Irides yellow. 

 Length, 2' 8"; tail, 11". 



Found generally in pairs, frequenting the embouchures of rivers, 

 lakes, and other parts of the colony, where wood and water afford a 

 congenial home. Feeds on fish, crabs, and reptiles, and will not refuse 

 carrion sheep, <fcc. (Le Vaillant says he has found antelope bones in 

 their nests), resorting usually to some bare rock or dead tree to devour 

 its quarry. 



Le Vaillant found it on the Orange River. Mr. Chapman brought it 

 from the Zambesi, and I saw it as far North as Fazy. It is common at 

 the Enysna, forming an enormous nest of sticks and rubbish. 1 did 

 not see its eggs ; but Le Vaillant says they are white, and shaped like 

 those of a turkey, only larger. 



22. Haliaetus Leucogaster. (Gmei), PL Col. 



49 ; Blagrus Leucogaster, Blyth ; Faico Blagrus, 

 Shaw ; Le Blat/re, Le Vail., PJ. 5. 



HEAD, neck, breast, belly, and thighs shining white ; wings 

 light-greyish ; tail the same, with broad white tip. Length, 

 2' 6".; wing, 2'; tail, 10". 



Le Vaillant states it is found in South Africa, near the mouths of 

 rivers, but is doubtful if it inhabits this country. I have never met 

 with it, and from knowing it well in Ceylon, should have recognised it 

 on the wing. It is, however, fair to state that Mr. T. H. Bowker, a 

 first-rate sportsman,, on being shown a specimen in the Museum, 

 instantly challenged it as a bird he had seen fishing on the coast of the 

 Albany district, but was not able to obtain. Mr. A. V. Jackson also 

 described to me an eagle which he once saw, and which from his 

 description I should have thought to have been P. Leucogaster. 



It has occurred to me, while thinking over Le Vaillaut's faulty 

 descriptions and errors, that many of them may be accounted for by 

 supposing that he saw a bird and failed to obtain it ; but thinking it 



