IMPERIAL EAGLE. 65 
they are provided with a peculiar membrane, by the assistance of 
which they can see against the sun. Their nest, termed an eyrie, is 
generally placed among inaccessible rocks. They mostly prey upon 
small live mammals and birds — some feed upon fish and insects. 
Since the publication of my first edition, this bird has been divided 
into three sub-species, and the question, which is the most interesting 
one of modern ornithology, deserves a somewhat extended notice, 
although my limits will not allow me to do it full justice, and I must 
refer the reader, who desires further information, to the writings of 
the gentlemen whom I quote. 
Some two or three years ago Dr. Cullen of Kustendji, sent me some 
skins of a large Striated Eagle, which he took to be Aquila ncevioides. 
Mr. Gurney, and others who saw these skins, decided that they were 
those of the immature Imperial Eagle in its stage known as striated 
plumage. A difficulty, however, arose from the fact that one of these 
birds was killed from the nest, which was placed at the base of a 
large rock, and the eggs were sent with the skins. They are now in 
my collection. But the English naturalists who had studied the habits 
of the Imperial Eagle in Spain, where the young have no striated 
plumage, more particularly gave their opinion that the Imperial Eagle 
never bred in the immature striated plumage, and Mr, Dresser in his 
"Birds of Europe," stated that he considered Dr. Cullen's Tartar, who 
took the bird and eggs, had deceived him. Dr. Cullen, however, *is 
perfectly certain that his Tartar did not deceive him. The eggs, one 
of which I figure, are certainly smaller and rounder than those of the 
Imperial Eagle. The bird was snared upon the nest, and was very 
fierce, one of the eggs being broken but not destroyed in the fray. 
As this is entirely a matter of belief in testimony, I must express my 
most decided conviction that Dr. Cullen's description is correct in 
every particular. Dr. C, however, himself states that he does not 
believe the bird to be an Imperial Eagle, and as confirmatory of this 
opinion, he says that neither his Tartar, a most experienced and trust- 
worthy servant, nor himself, ever knew an Imperial Eagle to breed in 
the immature plumage. 
The following are Dr. Cullen's different statements to me about the 
Striated Eagle, figured by Mr. Dresser as the young of the year of 
Aquila mogihiik. The skin passed from me to Mr. Gurney, who lent 
it to Mr. Dresser. 
Dr. Cullen always called the Eagle Aquila ncevioides, and for ac- 
curacy of transcription I will not alter this, but I do not by so doing 
assent to the designation. 
"Kustendji, May 9th., 1871. I am very glad to be able to report 
VOL. I. k 
