some Notes on Tame Serpent Eagles. 159


Crested Serpent Eagle, is to be found a much smaller bird known as

albidus, to which must be given the rank of a species.


In the Andamans, yet another species is found, the Andaman

Serpent Eagle (S', elgini elgini), whose place is taken in the Nicobars

by a very closely allied form S. elgini minimus , a very small bird,

with a wing of only 11—12 inches or about two-thirds the size of

the big Indian bird.


The Crested Serpent Eagles are amongst the most handsome

of the Kaptores ; the plumage itself is very handsomely barred and

spotted, and all the species are provided with a magnificent erectile

crest of black and white feathers which is very thick and full.

The eyes are a brilliant golden yellow and the cere and gape are

also a bright lemon yellow ; these colours against the dark plumage

having a very striking effect.


As its trivial name shows, this bird in a state of nature is

very largely a snake-eater, and every individual must destroy yearly

hundreds of these reptiles. Its mode of attack appears to be to

descend on the ground, sometimes striking at and disabling its

quarry as it descends, but more often knocking the snake down

with its wings after it has settled, and the snake erects itself to

attack. I once came on an eagle attacking a large cobra which it

was buffetting furiously with its wings. I did not see the commence¬

ment of the attack, and the grass in which it was carried on

prevented a very good view of what was happening, but the only

weapon used by the bird, as far as could be seen, were the wings,

still when I examined the snake I found its head and neck had been

badly torn, so that probably the eagle had struck with its talons as

well. They will occasionally stoop at jungle fowl, pheasants, and

partridge, but they do not seem to be very successful at such quarry,

and after snakes, lizards, frogs and small water birds would appear

to form their principal diet.


They are bold birds, but vary very much in temperament

individually, and whilst some will defend their nest, eggs or young

with the greatest bravery, others will flop away from their nests

when these latter are rifled without any attempt to resent the

robbery.



