SHORT-TAILED EAGLE. 99 



strong, the claws less curved, and the tail very 

 short: the legs are also naked or unfeathered: the 

 beak and claws are black ; the membrane at the 

 base of the beak yellowish; the head, neck, breast, 

 and body beneath are all deep black, forming a 

 fine contrast with the deep rufous of the back and 

 tail : scapulars dusky, with a blueish grey cast in 

 certain lights: all the small wing-coverts are of an 

 Isabella colour ; the quills black, edged outwardly 

 with silver-grey : the irides are deep brown. 'The 

 female is of paler colours, and is a fourth larger than 

 the male. The young birds have the beak horn- 

 coloured, with a blueish cere; the plumage brown, 

 less deep on the head and neck ; all the feathers 

 edged with pale brown, and the feet yellowish. 

 As they advance in age, the rufous feathers begin 

 to appear on the head and rump, and the black 

 ones on the belly: and it is not till the third 

 moulting that they acquire their complete co- 

 louring. 



This species is very common in the whole 

 country of the Hottniquas, and along the coast of 

 Terra de Natal as far as Caff r aria. Like the 

 Vociferous Eagle, the male and female are in- 

 separable : they build their nest on high trees, and 

 the females lay from three to four white eggs : they 

 prey chiefly on dead animals; yet often attack 

 young Antelopes and Ostriches, and lie in wait for 

 lambs, and sheep which happen to be in a weakly 

 state. Monsieur Levaillant has seen the female 

 feed her young by disgorging the contents of her 

 craw. It must therefore be confessed that thi> 



