54 



SPIZAETUS KELAAETI. 



Our bird may now and then be seen perched on the dead trees which stand in new coffee-plantations or 

 upon the half-leafless ones peculiar to some of the higher patnas in the main range. Its (light is similar in 

 that of the smaller low-country bird ; and I have seen it quietly beating round the edges of the woods on the 

 Horton Plains, probably on the look-out for the large black Squirrel (Sciurus tennantii), the " Kaloo Dando- 

 leyna " of the Sinhalese, and which animal, I have no doubt, is often preyed upon by it. 'flic note of this 

 species is a loud scream, somewhat resembling that of S. ceylonensis. 



[Since this article was sent to the press, I have received the following interesting note on this species from 

 Mr. 151igh. Writing from Ilaputale, where the bird seems to be tolerably common, he says, " 1 often sec I lie 

 bird on the wing: now I know the species well, and I believe it to be nearly as common as S. ceylonensis ; but 

 they do not hawk for their prey so low down as the latter, which often skims through a valley of coffee within 

 gun-shot of the ground, indeed often flies from one high stump to another, whereas the other would boldly 

 sweep through the valley at a much greater elevation, and now and then, if really looking for prey, take a large 

 sweeping circle. Lately I had the pleasure of seeing a pair of these birds on the wing together with a 

 5. ceylonensis. I could easily distinguish the species ; the small one, for some reason, kept above the others, 

 and eventually soared away out of sight, as if he did not relish the neighbourhood of his powerful relations." 



Nidification. — The nest of this species has never yet, to my knowledge, been found. The large tracts of 

 forest which still clothe portions of the Nuwara-Elliya plateau, and stretch from the Horton Plains to the Peak, 

 furnish it with a secure refuge in which to rear its young, it doubtless breeds on trees, nesting in a similar 

 manner to the next species. 



In the Plate accompanying this article, the figure in the foreground is taken from a magnificent female 

 bird, mature, but not quite adult, for the possession of which I am indebted to Mr. Gould, of Maturata. The 

 second figure is that of the young male described in this article, and for the loan of which I am indebted to 

 the kindness of my friend Mr. Gurney, coupled with the civility of the authorities of the Norwich Museum, 

 who loaned the specimen to me for the purpose of figuring. Mr. Keuleman's talented pencil has delineated 

 this bird in the act of reposing on one leg, so characteristic of these Eagles. 



Spizactus n ipalensis. 



The above woodcut of the adult breast-feathers of this Eagle and those of Spizaelus nipalensis shows 



the distinctive characters of marking in the two birds. 



