NOTES ON THE SPOTTED EAGLE, AQUILA N^VIA. 311 



difference in the young : the young of Aquila pomarina having 

 "the nape-feathers entirely ochraceous buff, forming a patch.*" 

 Such a buff-nuchal patch I have never seen in Aquila hastata. 

 It would, however, be interesting to know how many of these 

 young birds, with a buff nuchal patch, have been seen ? If only 

 one, I would discard it as a lusus natures. If two or three are 

 in existence the species is distinct from hastata ; but Messrs. 

 Sharpe and Dresser at times fail in giving necessary informa- 

 tion, and they expect other ornithologists to adopt their con- 

 clusions without shewing the reason why. Now it is a sad 

 omission not to let us know whether the buff-nape is a constant 

 distinction or not, and for want of this information I am unable 

 for the present to accept it as a characteristic of the youno- 

 Pomeranian Eagle. It is only this buff patch in the young bird 

 that prevents the abolition of one of the two species. 



I notice that Mr. Sharpe speaks of the adult male, Aquila 

 pomarina, as having spots. Also of Aquila hastata he says : " I 

 have never seen any adult European birds with the small white 

 spots on the least wing-coverts which frequently occur in 

 A. hastata. This character appears to me to be probably a 

 sign of the adult plumage, and may perhaps present a character 

 of importance in distinguishing A. hastata from A. ncevia." 



In this sentence Mr. Sharpe uses the term ncevia for the 

 Lesser Spotted Eagle, although we are told maculata is to be 

 adopted instead. 



Mr. Sharpe uses so many spots for his adult eagles that it is 

 clear he does not know, that the mature Spotted Eagle is always 

 ivholly spotless, no matter whether it be hastata, pomarina, or 

 ncevia. The quantity of small white spots on the least coverts 

 about the bend and upper ridge of the wing is very variable, 

 even at the same age. One nestling hastata I lately sent to 

 the Norwich Museum had these little spots profusely, while its 

 companion, which I have by me now, has comparatively few, 



The Larger Spotted Eagle or true Aquila ncevia of the old 

 authors and of Gmelin, Mr. Sharpe distinguishes as Aquila 

 clanga, Pallas. I think, however, no reason has been shewn 

 why we should depart from the well-known and most appro- 

 priate name by which the Spotted Eagle has always been known, 

 and I hope few will follow Mr. Sharpe in this, to my notion, in- 

 defensible change of name. 



It is the common and well-known bird over almost the whole 

 of the old world, while the Pomeranian Eagle appears to be a 



* This is mentioned in Naurnann's description, p. 220, '' im geneck steht ein schon 

 rostgelber fleck," but I can see no trace of this in PI. 10, where the nape is colored 

 precisely as in young hastata, — Ed. 



