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other hand, the Russian naturalists have usually referred it to the Spotted Eagle, and the 

 specimens afterwards described by Dr. Cabanis, under the name of Aquila orientalis, were sent 

 from Southern Russian by Dr. Eversmann as varieties of Aquila ncevia. 



The present species appears, so far as I can gather from a careful examination of all available 

 published information, to inhabit South-eastern Europe, ranging northward into the central portion 

 of Eastern Europe, and in Asia it is found throughout Southern Siberia and India. Mr. Sabanaeff 

 informs me that it is common in the Ural as far north as 58° N. lat., and he did not meet with it 

 beyond Bogosloffsk. He found it numerous on the western slope of the Ural, near Ekaterinburg, 

 but on the eastern side, near Schadrinsk, it was rare ; it is common in the southern portions of 

 the Perm Government, as also in that of Voronege, and breeds all along the Volga. He may, I 

 think, to some extent have confused the Eastern Spotted Eagle {Aquila clanga, Pall.) with the 

 present species, as he speaks of it as breeding in all the large woods in the interior of Russia. 

 How far westward into Europe it extends I am unable to say ; but it is said to be common 

 during migration near Constantinople, and I think it not improbable that it breeds in the 

 countries through which the Lower Danube flows. I have no data as to its occurrence in 

 Northern Africa, and am unable to say how far south those birds which are found passing the 

 Bosphorus on their journey southwards extend their range. 



To the eastward it certainly occurs across into Eastern Siberia ; and Dr. G. Radde (Reis. im 

 Siiden von Ost-Sib. ii. p. 85), who brought back specimens which he identifies with the type 

 specimens of Aquila orientalis, Cab., in the Berlin Museum, says that in the elevated steppes of 

 Dauria it is certainly one of the commonest Eagles. He shot the specimens he describes at 

 Tarei-nor late in April and early in May, and he found it breeding in the steppes. In India, 

 Mr. Brooks informs me, it is only a cold-weather visitant, and does not remain to breed there. 



It is exceedingly difficult to cull reliable information respecting the habits of the present 

 species, as it has been so generally confused with other allied species. It appears to be some- 

 what ignoble in its habits, feeding, like the Buzzards, on small rodents, reptiles, and birds, 

 and not disdaining to join the Vultures in feasting on carrion when such is to be found. It 

 appears to frequent the plains and flat country in preference to the more elevated districts, and 

 is said to be especially numerous on the bush-covered and bare flat steppes of Southern Russia, 

 as well as in the more lonely wooded districts, and is often met with near the villages and 

 inhabited localities. Mr. Moschler's collector, who has sent numerous specimens and many eggs 

 of this Eagle from the Lower Volga, informs me that it never breeds in trees, but invariably 

 places its nest either on the ground, frequently on a hill-side, or amongst the bushes. The 

 nest is tolerably bulky, and constructed like that of the Spotted Eag-le, Dr. Radde, whose 

 descriptions and measurements leave no doubt that the birds obtained were this species, writes 

 (torn. cit. p. 93) that he found its nest both in Mongolia and in the steppes of Southern Russia; 

 its nest he almost always found on the ground, generally near some mound, and in Southern 

 Russia very frequently placed on a tumulus or grave-mound ; it is loosely and carelessly con- 

 structed of branches and finger-thick twigs and sticks, and carefully lined. 



In its habits the present species is described by Dr. Raclde as closely resembling the 

 Imperial Eagle. It sits for hours waiting patiently for prey on a marmot mound or an old 

 tumulus, and is by no means a noble bird, but partakes far more of the Buzzard in its habits, 



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