iS cassell's book of birds. 



covers are dirty reddish white, without any markings. The eye is bronze colour, the beak greyish 

 blue, the cere and feet greyish yellow. 



These Eagles are common in Germany, Greece, and South Italy, and more numerous than any 

 others in Spain and Algiers, where they frequent bare mountains ; they are also met with in north- 

 western Africa and India, always resorting to the hilly districts of the latter country. These birds do 

 not migrate, but wander at large in considerable flocks, except during the breeding season, when they 

 are extremely unsocial, prudently permitting none of their companions to approach the nest. In 

 disposition the Hawk Eagle has much in common with the group whose name it bears, equalling the 

 Gos-Hawk in courage and hardihood, but far exceeding it in bodily powers. When upon the wing 

 its movements will bear comparison with those of the Falcon, but when perched its attitude 

 is much less imposing. The eye of this species is peculiarly brilliant and fiery in its glance, 

 clearly indicating the disposition of its owner, whose fierce boldness often leads it to contend 

 with the largest and most formidable of its race. Some writers tell us that the Hawk Eagle confines 

 its attacks to water birds, but this is not the case ; in Spain it is numbered amongst the most terrible 

 invaders of the poultry-yard, whence it will carry off a good fat hen under the very eyes of its owner. 

 Jerdon mentions having seen it in India seize upon and bring down Peacocks. The eyrie, which is 

 usually placed in holes of rocks, is but rarely met with ; one found by Kriiper in Greece contained 

 two eggs, the walls were formed of sticks, and the interior was lined with down. The eggs differed 

 from each other, both in colour and markings, one being of a dirty white without spots, and the other 

 pure white, and distinctly speckled. The nest to which we allude must have been an uncommonly 

 warm cradle for the nestlings, for it was so placed as to be exposed to the full force of the sun's rays. 



The HOODED EAGLES (Spiza'etos) are slender in form, with short wings, iong tails, and high, 

 powerful feet, one distinguishing character being the possession of a more or less developed tuft upon 

 the back of the head. 



THE MARTIAL HOODED EAGLE. 

 The Martial Hooded Eagle (Spizaetos bellicosus) is the largest and strongest member of this 

 group. This powerful bird is three feet long, and of great breadth ; the wing measures two feet, the 

 tail fourteen inches. Its plumage is extremely simple ; the upper part of the body is a beautiful brown, 

 the head of a darker shade ; the individual quills of the mantle have a light edge, and the wings a 

 border formed by the light tips of the feathers that form the large wing-covers ; a white stripe passes 

 over the eyes to the back of the head ; the en are lower parts of the body are white, shaded with blue; 

 the tail is dark brown above, light brown beneath, and striped crossways with six dark lines ; the outer 

 web of the large quills is black, the inner lighter in colour and darkly striped ; the lower wing-covers 

 are pure white, the eye is greyish brown, the cere greenish, the beak black, and the feet lead colour. 

 This species, which is an inhabitant of Africa, has been so little noticed by modern travellers that in 

 describing its habits we must quote Le Vaillant, who wrote at the close of the last century ; from this 

 source we learn that the Martial Eagle lives in pairs, which keep together with the greatest constancy, 

 each couple remaining jealously apart from others of their own kind. The nest is usually built upon 

 a solitary tree, and from this point the pair fly forth, and spread terror over the surrounding country. 

 No bird, however large, is safe from their pursuit, and even when Vultures and Ravens combine in the 

 hope of collectively routing the common enemy, they are no sooner face to face with the foe than 

 they are ignominiously put to flight. These Eagles destroy antelopes and hares in great numbers ; 

 and are, in fact, the tyrants of the districts they inhabit. When on the wing, their motions are light 

 and rapid ; their voice is sometimes harsh and deep, and at others sharp and penetrating. These birds 



