66 IMPERIAL EAGLE. 
having secured by trapping on the nest a fine male specimen of the Aquila 
ncevioides. Its dimensions in the flesh, are, from tip of beak to end 
of tail, thirty-four inches. Length of wing, thirty-two inches. Beak, 
to angle of gape, three inches. Middle toe and claw, three inches. 
Hind toe and claw, two inches. The female, which was soaring near, 
was much lighter in colour, agreeably to its Turkish name Sari Kartal, 
or Yellow Eagle. 
The nest was situated at the base of a large isolated stone or rock 
with small bushes round. It was rather small, but very similar in 
form and structure to that of A. ncevia and A. clanga. It contained 
two eggs, one of which was unfortunately cracked by the bird itself 
in its struggles. It resisted capture most violently, its eyes glaring 
most fiercely, the feathers on the head and neck being erected like 
bristles, presenting a most formidable appearance; while at the same 
time it uttered a succession of loud shrill cries, resembling ' whirr-whir - 
r-r-r/ The dimensions of the eggs are two and a half by two and a 
half inches. The young, as I have had an opportunity of noticing, 
are covered with a fine down of a very light colour." 
In answer to this letter, I mentioned that the bird was considered 
by the authorities in this country to be the young of the year of 
Aquila imperialis. To which remark Dr. Cullen replies: — 
"I cannot for a moment suppose that the Aquila ncevioides is the 
young of A. imperialis. The eggs are altogether different in form and 
colouring, and the bird itself in many most important particulars. I 
have never yet seen or heard of an Imperial Eagle nesting on the 
ground. 
My Tartar's knowledge is self-taught, and he will not listen for a 
moment to the idea that a "Sari" or "Yellow Eagle" can ever 
become a "Biaz Omz" or "White-shouldered Eagle." It is to him I 
owe the discovery of the gular pouch of the Great Bustard. He had 
known of it for years. Though rudely expressed, I have never known 
more shrewd observations made by any one as to the habits of animals." 
Again, when another similar skin (also in the Norwich Museum) 
was brought in by the Tartar, Dr. Cullen writes, — 
"Kustendji, June 14th., 1872. I had a long talk with him. He 
says, it cannot be A. imperialis, which arrives at maturity in the third 
year, when the white spot appears on the shoulders, and the rest of 
the body is of uniform chocolate colour. He calls it "Biaz Omz 
Kartal," or " White-shouldered Eagle," and doubts altogether the 
possibility of this I am going to send you, or the one of last year, 
(see Dresser's plate) being a variety of imperialis. The one now brought 
in is a male about six or seven years old. The male and female 
