THRYSAETUS. — SPIZASTUK. 257 



The following remarks are quoted from the same author {oj>. cit. 

 (2) vi. p. 148) : — "The Harpy (Thrasattus harpyia). This bird 

 is a true inhabitant of the forest, and ranges in this kind of 

 district all over the Colony. It has been shot on the Berbice, 

 Demerara, and Lower Essequebo Bivers, and it is more par- 

 ticularly met with in the elevated or hilly districts, where it ^vill 

 occasionally be found perching on the top of some dead 'giant 

 of the forest,' evidently the better to scour the surrounding- 

 country for its victims. It preys on all the larger birds, such as 

 macaws, and on mammals, such as the deer and sloth — the latter 

 especially being subject lo its voracity, since its only chance of 

 escape lies in its protective colouring. 



"In stock-raising countries it is much feared, as, owing to 

 its great strength, it does not hesitate to attack and kill sheep, 

 pigs, and calves." 



Mr. V. A. Lloyd remarks (Timehri (2) xi. p. 8) :— " The Silk 

 Cotton is the favourite tree of the Harpy, Thrasaetus harjvjia ; 

 this bird returns yeaidy to the same nest to breed. I have never 

 seen the eggs of the Harpy, but the Indians relate that their nests 

 generally contain two young ones, and most probably this is the 

 number of eggs in a clutch. The Ivanaku Mountain Range seems 

 to be their chief breeding-quarters on the Savannah. 



" The Harpy preys largely on sloths and baboons, Mi/cetes 

 sciiicidus — especially on the former, — and the ground about the 

 nesting-tree is sometimes literally strewn with the bones and hair 

 of these animals." 



Mr. Barrington Brown states (Canoe and Camp Life, p. 230) 

 tliat : — " Whilst Ben was in pursuit of a flock of Trumpet-birds, 

 an Eagle-Hawk {Harpt/Jialiaetus coronatun) swooped down at him, 

 and, ])assing close to his head, lit on a bough before him, when, to 

 punish it for its audacity, ho shot it.'' 



Genus SPIZASTUR Gri 



•av. 



Sjiizasfiir Gray, List Genera Birds, 2nd od. p. 3, Ibll. Typo 

 *S'. melanoleucus (Vieill.). 



This genus belongs to the true Eagles, whicli have the outer toe 

 only connected to the middle toe by membrane, the tibia longer 

 than the tarsus, the latter feathered down to the toes, the distance 

 between the tii)S of the primaries and tips of the secondaries is more 

 than the length of the tarsus, the claws long and much curved. 



