90 CULLEN'S TAWNY EAGLE. 
Supposed to be a female. Plumage of an isabelle-coloured fawn, 
the folded wings passing beyond the end of the tail. Upper and 
under parts very light isabelle-coloured fawn. Head, neck, breast, 
same colour, (but browner upon the back, on the rump, and on the 
lesser wing coverts.) There is a little also on the abdomen and tibial 
feathers. Greater wing coverts and secondary remiges of a dirty 
brown, edged at the tips with isabelle. Primaries of a brownish 
black, edged with isabelle. Tail brown of an earthy shade, without 
traces of bands or transverse spots. The end of the tail, which, like 
that of the wild bird, was of a russet isabelle, is worn off. Cere and 
feet yellow. Beak bluish in front of the cere, then of a brownish 
black. Base of lower mandible yellowish. 
"Yours most sincerely, 
"G. T. Vanden-Nest, Professor." 
Upon the receipt of this letter, I wrote again to Dr. Cullen and 
Professor Vanden-nest, and I publish the answers of these gentlemen. 
"Kustendji, September 10, 1874. 
"My dear Dr. Bree, — Yours of the 29th. I got on Monday night, 
but as our post went out that day, I answer it by return. It is 
indeed very interesting. If you could refer to one or more letters I 
have sent you, you would doubtless see, as, I dare say, you can 
remember that those referred to the Antwerp Bird as proof of my 
assertion and belief that it was A. ncevioides. I am glad indeed to 
find I am not mistaken. Now as to your enquiries. The ' Fanny 
David* S.S., Captain W. Hunter, left this on the 11th. January, 1868, 
and took away this A. ncevioides, and I think A. clanga. I had two 
birds half fledged brought me, and as I was attracted by their 
colour (a light cream, as I have before written you,) I bought them. 
One died, and the survivor is the one at Antwerp. The whole plu- 
mage was this delicate 'fauve isabelle' silk down, and then it 
grew gradually, developing itself into an almost perfect copy of your 
A. ncevioides, as we all agreed when I got your work, and was able 
to observe it (your drawing) with its living representative. When I 
sent it away it was nearly three years old, and must therefore be 
nine years now. I of course regret that I did not record in writing 
its changes of plumage, but I was not aware of the interest attaching 
to the question. When I say that it was almost a perfect copy of 
your bird, I mean to say what we all felt to be the truth, that you 
had an excellent artist to draw your birds, and only regretted that 
you had not the living one to study and depict when in action and 
