504 



6 



various localities in the district in the neighbourhood of the canal. I thought I might possibly 

 have overlooked this species in past years ; but this seemed unlikely, because winter and summer 

 I daily had one or two men out shooting, and, even had I always passed it over, one or other of 

 them must have killed it. However, this matter was set at rest by several Aheriahs (native 

 hunters and bird-catchers by caste) spontaneously pointing out this bird to me as having only 

 appeared in the district during the last two years. This species has always been plentiful in the 

 Dhoon and the northern portion of the Suharunpoor district, in which the Ganges canal has its 

 origin ; and there can be little doubt that as the canal, year by year, was opened out further and 

 further, developing tracts suited to their tastes, the Spotted Eagles (whose favourite food with us 

 is unquestionably frogs) rapidly followed its course." According to Captain Feilden (Stray 

 Feathers, iii. p. 25) it has occurred in Upper Pegu ; and Mr. Gurney remarks (Ibis, 1877, p. 331) 

 that a specimen in the Norwich Museum, formerly in the Museum of the Zoological Society of 

 London, is recorded as having been obtained in Sumatra by the late Sir Stamford Raffles. 



In Siberia the Spotted Eagle does not range very far north ; Von Middendorff does not 

 include it ; but Von Schrenck says that it is found right through Siberia to Kamtschatka, and 

 that Mr. Maack obtained it on the Lower Schilka. I have seen examples sent by collectors in 

 Siberia to M. Verreaux, obtained, if I recollect right, near Lake Baikal ; but it is difficult to say 

 if Dr. Radde obtained it in Mongolia; for he has united (under the name o£ Aquila noevia) Aquila 

 nipalensis, Aquila ncevioides, Aquila pomarina, Aquila clanga, and Aquila crassipes of Hodgson, 

 this last being the Eastern Imperial Eagle. Judging from Dr. Radde's descriptions, he appears 

 to have obtained chiefly, if not only, specimens of Aquila nipalensis ; and scarcely any agree with 

 the present species. According to Pere Arinand David (Ois. de la Chine, p. 11), this species is 

 the rarest of the Chinese Eagles ; for he has only seen three examples from there ; but, he adds, 

 it is tolerably common in Cochin China. Colonel Prjevalsky states (Rowley's Orn. Misc. pt. vi. 

 p. 145) that he only obtained one male, in the spring of 1871, at the Dalai-nor, since when he 

 met with it two or three times in South-east Mongolia, but did not observe it either in Kan-su 

 or Koko-nor. 



In habits this Eagle, like the Lesser Spotted Eagle, bears great affinity to the Buzzard. It 

 is somewhat heavy in its general movements, and may often be seen sitting quietly on some 

 elevated perch waiting for prey. Its flight resembles that of the Lesser Spotted Eagle, but is, 

 perhaps, rather heavier and more laboured. In note, however, the two species differ materially ; 

 the cry of the present bird is a yelping note, like the syllables jeb,jeb,jeb. Like Aquila pomarina, 

 it is said to feed with avidity on frogs. It not unfrequently devours carrion, and is said also to 

 eat fish: Eversmann states that he has found quantities of fish-bones near the nest of one of 

 these Eagles ; Von Heuglin also states that it feeds on fish ; and Dr. A. Leith Adams writes 

 (Ibis, 1864, p. 8), this Eagle may often be seen in Egypt, "either in fields hunting after reptiles 

 and small quadrupeds, or feeding on fish on the sandbanks. I found portions of a large snake 

 in one killed near Thebes, and on another occasion surprised a pair intently devouring a large 

 Lepidotus (Cliaracinus denteoc, Sav.)." 



This Eagle, like the Lesser Spotted Eagle, invariably breeds in a tree, never on the ground. 

 It constructs its nest of boughs like that of Aquila pomarina, but makes a larger nest than that 

 species. It usually breeds in the large forests, and never, Eversmann says, near the villages, and 



