503 



In North-east Africa both the present species and the Lesser Spotted Eagle are found, 

 but the present species appears greatly to predominate. Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, 

 p. 206): — "This is the most abundant species of Eagle in Egypt, but it is less plentiful in 

 Nubia. During my visit to the Fayoom in February and March it was extremely plentiful, and 

 was generally to be seen sitting still by the water's edge. I frequently found it devouring pieces 

 of decomposing fish, which appeared to form its chief food in the Fayoom." According to Von 

 Heuglin it is common in the winter on the lagoons of the Nile delta, and is found along the Nile 

 southwards to Sennaar and Kordofan, and also occurs in Abyssinia. It certainly does not, he 

 says, breed there, but leaves for the north in the spring. In North-west Africa the present 

 species alone appears to occur. Loche says that it is rare in Algeria, only occurring on passage ; 

 and Favier does not appear to have met with it in Morocco. 



In Asia proper the Lesser Spotted Eagle appears to be wanting, and the present species and 

 Aquila hastata are the only Spotted Eagles found. Mr. Blanford did not meet with it in Persia ; 

 but Major St. John had one alive in Shiraz. There are two specimens from Bagdad in the 

 British Museum, collected by Mr. Loftus ; and Dr. Severtzoff states' that it breeds throughout 

 Turkestan. Mr. A. O. Hume writes (Stray Feathers, i. p. 158) as follows: — "This species was 

 by far the commonest Eagle in Sindh, and scores were to be met with in the neighbourhood of 

 every large piece of water. Every clump of tamarisk trees, standing well out into the water, as 

 is so commonly the case in the broads of Sindh, was almost certain to be crowned by one of 

 these black-looking Eagles. Elsewhere I have generally found them subsisting almost exclusively 

 on frogs ; here, to my astonishment, I twice shot them in the act of devouring fish, and on several 

 occasions saw them strike at, and once or twice actually carry away, Snipe and other small water- 

 birds that we had wounded. Whereas in other parts of the country outside the Subhimalayan 

 belt Aquila clang a is a cold-weather visitant, and most of the birds seen are young ones in the 

 strongly spotted stage of plumage, in Sindh the species is a permanent resident, and, as I ascer- 

 tained from the fishermen, regularly breeds there in April and May, and scarcely a single bird was 

 obtained in any but the dark adult plumage, with more or less white tarsi." I have received 

 many specimens from various parts of India ; and Dr. Jerdon says (B. of India, i. p. 59) that it is 

 found throughout that country in suitable localities, and is tolerably common in the Carnatic and 

 on the Malabar coast, but rare in the tableland. Referring to its range in India, Mr. A. O. Hume 

 writes (Rough Notes, p. 165) as follows: — "Aquila clanga, with us, at any rate, is a bird fre- 

 quenting moist localities. Where large jheels abound, or where canal irrigation is extensively 

 resorted to, there Aquila clanga (in Upper India at any rate) is very common ; but in the dry 

 sandy plains, which occupy so vast a portion of the surface of continental India, this species is 

 extremely rare. A remarkable fact as to change of geographic distribution resulting from modi- 

 fication of the physical aspect of a country by human industry came under my own notice in 

 connexion with this species. The Etawah district, between Cawnpore and Agra, belonged 

 essentially to the dry sandy class. For years I shot through this district without ever obtaining 

 a single specimen of the Spotted Eagle. After a time the Ganges canal, with innumerable 

 minor channels, was opened out through the district. Huge tracts came under irrigation. A 

 year or two passed away, when suddenly one day, shooting with Mr. Brookes, along the canal, 

 we found the Spotted Eagle common. Subsequently numerous specimens were obtained at 



