WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 337 



A young bird just able to fly, being one of the individuals mentioned 

 at p. 160 of Vol. II., and kiUed on 7th February 1832. 



The bill is of the same form as above described, but shorter. The 

 tarsi and toes are proportionally weaker, and the clavi's much more 

 slender. On the tarsi in front are five scutella of moderate size, the 

 third from above divided into two, the lower also divided. On the 

 hind toe are 4, on the second 5, on the third 13, on the fourth 6 large 

 scutella. 



The quills are not more than half-grown ; the fourth longest, the 

 third 1 twelfth, the fifth 2 twelfths shorter. The tail-feathers are ter- 

 minated by a long bristle ; the lateral feathers an inch and a half ; the 

 form of the feathers as in the adult. 



The bill is brownish-black, the cere dull greenish-yellow, the base 

 of the lower mandible yellow. Iris dark-brown. Feet yellow ; claws 

 bluish-black. The general colour of the plumage is very dark choco- 

 late, uniform, the feathers being without edgings ; all the feathers 

 white at the base, that colour appearing more or less on the hind part 

 and more especially on the fore part and sides of the neck, and on the 

 sides of the body and lower wing-coverts ; the quills and tail-feathers 

 are brovmish-black, tinged with grey toward the base ; the latter with 

 the greater part of the inner webs and a portion of the outer brownish- 

 white, freckled with dusky. 



Length to end of tail 29^ inches ; bill along the ridge 2iy its height 

 at the base lj% ; tarsus 3:^ ; hind toe lj:%, its claw lj% ; middle toe 2^, 

 its claw lA ; wing from flexure 18 ; tail 9i. 



In more advanced stages, the colours of the plumage vary consider- 

 ably in diff"erent individuals. The general tint continues brown for 

 several years, a variable, and often lal-ge proportion of white, or brown- 

 ish-white appearing, on the neck, the lower part of the body, the sides, 

 and under the wings, the tail meanwhile gradually becoming white, in 

 freckled patches. Some individuals have a large patch of brownish- 

 white across the breast. When the feathers are new they are of a 

 glossy deep brown, but when old and worn they present a bleached ap- 

 pearance, and the upper parts are often patched with pale brown, or 

 brownish-white. On account of these circumstances, individuals of 

 different ages, and shot at diff'erent periods of the year, differ so much 

 from each other in appearance, that one might, without a very extend- 



