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 (Butasturindicus] (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 (Haliaetus), which are fully 

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

 or Erne (H. albicillus] (918), a few pairs of which still breed in the 

 British Isles, is also an autumn and winter visitor to our coasts ; 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 Africa. Few kinds 



[Centre o f f lsn flesh, fowl, or carrion come amiss to these birds. In the large 

 Case 1 



centre Case a very fine series of Steller's Sea-Eagle (H. pelagicus) 



(922) [PL 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.] In this Case are placed the Kites and Houey-Buzzards : commencing 

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

 (Haliastur) (923, 924), the lovely Swallow-tailed Kite ( E lanoides fur- 

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

 milvus and M. korschuri) (926, 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 52.] Baza subcristata (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 (Lophoictiniaisura) (934) from Australia, we come 

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

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

 appears to be insufficient. Lastly the curious Double-toothed Falcon 

 (Harpagus bidentatus] (937), which resembles the Cuckoo Falcons 

 (Baza) in having the upper mandible doubly notched, is worthy of 

 special notice. 



