IMPERIAL EAGLE. 73 
I have in my collection a dozen eggs of the Imperial Eagle, which 
I obtained through Mr. Farman and Dr. Cullen. Mr. Cullen has also 
sent me five fine specimens, so that I have no difficulty in giving a 
faithful description. I have also eggs from South Russia. They do 
not vary much in size. They are within a very short distance indeed 
of two inches and nine-tenths long, and two inches broad. I have 
one specimen also from Kustindji, which is one tenth of an inch 
shorter each way than the above. 
The coloration varies from pure unspotted white to clear white with 
faint brown markings — then to similar eggs with more numerous but 
still indistinct pinkish brown blotches, some of them of largish size, 
and altogether covering the greater part of the egg. Then we have 
a similar series of blotches and markings upon a dirty white ground, 
and I have said all that is necessary about the eggs of the Imperial 
Eagle. It is eminently characteristic of the species — never, according 
to my experience, being marked with the bright russet blotches which 
we sometimes see on the egg of the Golden Eagle. Its size, and the 
apparent preponderance of white, owing to the light and indistinct 
colour of the blotches, at once distinguish it from the egg of the 
Spotted Eagle, A. ncevia. 
The Imperial Eagle, the subject of this notice, is one of the most 
beautiful birds of its tribe. It was long confounded with the Golden 
Eagle of British lists, but it is readily distinguished by the specific 
characters, given above. It inhabits the extensive mountain forests in 
the middle, south, and east of Europe. It is found in Turkey, Hun- 
gary, Dalmatia, and the south of Russia. It occurs accidentally in 
the Pyrenees, and in the south of France. M. Crespon records its 
appearance in the departments of Gard and the Rhone; and M. 
Tyzenhaus says it is found rarely in Lithuania, where it has been known 
in one instance to breed. It has a wide range, being found commonly 
in Egypt and Barbary, India, and it also occurs in China: a specimen 
from Foo-choo is now alive in the Gardens of the Zoological Society 
in Regent's Park, but has not yet acquired its adult dress. 
The adult male and female have the plumage generally of a rich 
glossy blackish brown, the feathers on the wing coverts and scapularies 
edged with lighter brown. Head and nape creamy yellow; more or 
less streaked longitudinally, with dark brown. Scapulars dark brown, 
with a more or less scattered patch of white between the shoulders. 
Tail dark grey, marked with brown, and a broad terminal blackish 
brown band, narrowly tipped with whity brown. Beak blue; cere 
and legs yellow. Iris varying from pale hazel to straw yellow. 
My figure of this bird is from a fine Indian specimen, in the col- 
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