100 STRIATED EAGLE. 
All this is so totally contrary to the records of European observers, 
that one begins to fancy Radde has got hold of an altogether different 
species, but he goes on to say, "In the specimen before me I find 
no appearance anywhere of these white shoulder feathers. In comparing 
the young of this Eagle from the Tarei-nor with some skins kindly 
placed at my disposal by Eversmann from Orenberg in Kasan, I find 
that my skin is especially in the breast of a darker brown, although 
in every feather the light loam-coloured shaft spot is inclining to grey, 
and no feather here has the freshness or the dark colour of the second 
plumage. Also the back has a darker shade of brown, the light shaft 
spots being very small, and in consequence of the great wearing away 
of the plumage, the lighter edges of the single feathers had vanished 
more or less, and here they are altogether absent. If the plumage of 
the bird killed on April 1st. is in spite of its dark shade already 
much faded, it can well be maintained that as it grew it would have 
become much darker, and in this point would have differed from the 
plumage of the young Imperial Eagle of Eastern Europe. In reference 
to the statements of Sewerzoff, I find them confirmed by specimens 
sent by Eversmann to the Academy from Orenberg in the moulting 
plumage. This moult takes place especially on the upper part of the 
body as much in front as extended backwards; and between the old 
rubbed light feathers of the youthful plumage, the deep dark brown 
almost violet glittering feathers of the second plumage, are dove-tailed 
from the neck over the breast. Also one of the long white shoulder 
feathers is already completely formed." 
This description of Radde, though wanting in clearness and fullness 
of detail, is very different from that of those ornithologists who make the 
Striated Eagle of the Dobrudsha the penultimate stage of the Imperial 
Eagle's plumage, and very much strengthens the view I have taken 
of the birds being altogether distinct. 
Since the above was in type, the facts about Aquila Oulleni have 
come to light, and the question arises, Is the Striated Eagle the 
immature form of Aquila Calient? Dr. Cullen's letter would seem to 
negative such a supposition, but Professor Vanden-nest's history of 
the Antwerp bird's change of plumage strengthens it. This, if it 
prove true, will solve all difficulties. The barred tail seems to offer 
a difficulty; but old birds often lose entirely their barred tails, as we 
have seen is the case in the Eleonora Falcon. 
