AQUILA K.EVJA. 173 



apart, and which they occupy usually every alternate year, is 

 also regularly followed by this tree-nesting species. In every 

 instance in which I have found a nest there has been a second in 

 a tree within a few hundred yards of the first one. The Snake- 

 Eagle has the same habit, so much so that on finding an 

 unoccupied nest, one has only to search the vicinity for a second 

 one, and usually with success." 



When sitting on trees or rocks, the white shoulders of this 

 Eagle are very conspicuous. 



The old birds are easily recognized on the wing from their 

 very dark appearance. The immature are less easy to distinguish ; 

 for a long time some of them were thought to be specimens of 

 A. rapax; and I remember being considered a heretic in 

 ornithological matters for saying they were young White- 

 shouldered Eagles. 



The adults are very dark brown on the body and wings, except for the 

 white patches on the latter, whence its name. The immature birds are at 

 first of a uniform reddish brown, which becomes gradually lighter. They 

 take, in captivity, three years to show any white in the wing. 



Adult. See Plate. 



Immature. General colour light brown ; breast uniform. Length 31-33 

 inches. 



188. Aquila nsevia (J. F. Gmelin). The Spotted Eagle *. 



The Spotted Eagle does not appear to have been obtained by 

 Favier in Morocco. The only two specimens which I have seen 

 from Andalucia were both from near Seville one in spotted 

 plumage (the same mentioned by Lord Lilford and Mr. Saunders 

 in ' The Ibis '), and an adult male, killed on the 12th of 

 November, 1870, and now in Lord Lilford's collection. 



General colour dark reddish brown. Tail nearly uniform brown above. 

 Young. Wing-coverts and scapulars with large oval tips of white or 

 brownish w T hite. Length 26 inches. 



* This term " spotted " is misleading, as only the immature birds are so 

 marked. 



