485 



" Le Vaillant found this species only in the forests of Outeniqua Land, perching on the summits 

 of high trees, and shy and difficult of approach. Dr. Smith cites it as from near 'Heeren 

 Logement,' in Clanwilliam ;" and he further states (Ibis, 1869, p. 361) that he "obtained this 

 pretty little Eagle in the neighbourhood of Saldanha Bay, on the west coast. A kind friend 

 residing in the vicinity has collected an extensive series of eggs for me ; and as the locality is a 

 very favourable one, his name will often appear in these notes. Mr. J. Cotze, jun., aided by his 

 children and his neighbour Mr. Melk, procured several nests of this bird. They were placed in 

 trees, very similar to those of Buteo jackal ; the eggs, generally two, of a dirty white ground, 

 more or less blotched and smeared with light reddish brown ; axis 2" 5'", diameter 1" 10'". My 

 son, Mr. Leopold Layard, also found a nest with a pair of eggs at Grootevadersbosch, near 

 Swellendam." Dr. Sclater also records it (Ibis, 1864, p. 303) as having been obtained by the 

 late Dr. Dickinson at Chibisa, in the Zambesi district. 



To the eastward the Booted Eagle occurs as far as India and Ceylon. Severtzoff (Turk. 

 Jevotnie, p. 63) records it as found throughout Turkestan, except in the south-western portion, 

 where it does not occur. It breeds principally on the Thian-Shan and Karatau Mountains ; and 

 its nest has been found as high as 7000 feet; but above that it only occurs during migration. 

 Dr. Jerdon (B. of I. i. p. 64) speaks of it as being found throughout India, where it frequents 

 groves, gardens, and cultivated land ; and Mr. Hume says that he has shot it in the Goorgaon 

 district, and near Umritsur, in the Punjaub, that Mr. W. E. Brooks has seen several at a time 

 near Chunar in company with Milvus govinda, and that Mr. R. Thompson met with it commonly 

 in Gurhwal and Kumaon. It has also, according to Mr. Holdsworth (P. Z. S. 1872, p. 411), " been 

 recorded by Layard from Ceylon." The Australian Little Eagle (Aquila morjphnoides, Gould) has 

 been confounded with the present species, but is clearly distinct ; and my late colleague Mr. 

 Sharpe points out (Cat. of Accip. p. 255) that it may always be distinguished by the under 

 surface of the wings being mottled, not plain-coloured, as is the case with A. pennata. 



In its habits the Booted Eagle somewhat resembles the Buzzard, and, like that species, it 

 feeds on small birds, pigeons, and small mammals ; but it is not so very swift, and I scarcely 

 think, from what I have seen of it, that it could catch an old pigeon on the wing. Still it flies 

 with grace and ease, and is, when flying, a graceful and elegant bird. Most observers who have 

 studied its habits say that it feeds principally on mice and rats, like the Spotted Eagle ; and 

 doubtless, like the Buzzard, it frequently kills young birds, especially during the breeding- 

 season when it has young. It does not appear in general to be a shy bird, and exhibits great 

 affection for its mate and love of its nest, which it will not forsake though driven from it several 

 times in succession, and it frequently remains sitting until the intruder has climbed the tree in 

 which the nest is placed. Its note is a clear ke, ke, ke, which Dr. Kriiper not inaptly compares 

 to the note of a Sandpiper ; and he says that though the note is so clear in the spring, espe- 

 cially during the pairing-season, still when the young are fledged and follow the parents the 

 note is changed, and the call of the young birds especially is so harsh that one can scarcely 

 recognize the clear summer note in its cry. It breeds numerously in Spain and Southern Russia, 

 selecting the larger forests, and making use of the old nest of some other Raptor, not building 

 its own ; and it usually chooses a nest placed in a tolerably large tree not very closely surrounded 

 by others, where it can have a fair view of the surroundings, generally an oak or a white elm, 



