80 CASPIAN BIFASCIATEI) EAGLE. 
"I have, from the first, been struck by the great similarity of these 
two specimens to our Indian Aquila bifasciata, Gray and Hardwiek; 
but had not till the other day obtained Indian specimens according 
in every respect, to a feather, with the European examples of Aquila 
orientalis, above referred to. Now I have, and the accordance is so 
beautifully perfect, that there is no alternative, but to come to the 
conclusion that A. orientalis is indentical in every respect with A. 
bifasciata* 
"I have now, therefore, three European killed examples of A. 
bifasciata ; the third being that sent me by Capt. Elwes, and referred 
to in 'Stray Feathers,' vol. i., p. 291. The two first are in nearly 
mature plumage, and the third is quite mature, and is the finest 
specimen of the bird I have seen. 
"The two sent as ' A. orientalis' have only slight indications of the 
nuchal patch; otherwise I should have recognized them at the first 
glance as A. bifasciata, as was the case with Capt. Elwes's Bosphorus 
bird. This term has, I believe, priority over A. orientalis of Cabanis, 
and if so will be retained for this Eagle. 
"One of my ornithological friends informs me that the immature of 
A. orientalis (which we have shewn is A. bifasciata), has spotted 
plumage like that of A. neevia; another friend informs me he has 
received the immature bird, and it 'is strangely like A. bifasciata V 
Now the latter Eagle is not spotted, and the 'doctors,' who are both 
men of repute, 'differ.' 
"These points will all be cleared up it is to be hoped before long; 
and we shall perhaps have the natural history of the Eagle, as clear 
and as correct as that of the common Rook, with little of nothing 
else to be learned. At present the Eagles appear to be in a state of 
dire confusion. — Since the foregoing was written, Capt. G. F. L. 
Marshall, who is much interested in this subject, came and examined 
the series used. He fully concurred in the identification of A. orien- 
talis with A. bifasciata." 
A. bifasciata, which it thus appears, has been doing duty in Europe 
for no one knows how long under assumed colours, has a range 
extending from Eastern Europe to Eastern India. Hitherto treated 
as a large Spotted Eagle, yet there appears to be no history of a 
* [Mr. V. Ball and I had the pleasure of comparing the two specimens of A. 
orientalis, referred to by Mr. Brooks, with a series of Indian A. bifasciata. They 
undoubtedly appear to be perfectly identical, both in structure and coloration. If 
the determination of those two specimens as A. orientalis is correct, (and upon 
such good authority as Mr. Gurney it ought to be), there can be no doubt that 
the two species must be considered as identical. — F. Stoliczha.'] 
