510 



being but a very poor hunter, and is of no use in falconry. Very early in the morning, even 

 before sunrise, it visits the corn-fields when the grain is in shocks, and takes its position on one 

 of these, or on a hay-cock in the hay-fields, in order to be able to have a clear view for some 

 distance round. It frequently joins the Imperial Eagle and the common Kite in a feast on 

 carrion, and, like those, will frequently gorge itself. It flies low, and strikes quickly and strongly 

 with its wings ; and he never saw it soaring in circles like some of the Eagles do. 



I possess a fair series of eggs, several of which I received through Mr. Moschler, together 

 with the parent birds, the remainder having been sent to me by Mr. Sabanaeff from the Southern 

 Ural. They closely resemble those of the common Spotted Eagle in colour and markings, but 

 are larger, measuring from 2f~§ by 2-^$ to 2f§ by 2^% inches in size. Dr. E. Eey, who has 

 examined a considerable number of undoubtedly genuine eggs of this Eagle, informs me that it 

 is impossible to distinguish, with any degree of certainty, large eggs of the Pomeranian Spotted 

 Eagle from small eggs of the present species, as the eggs of both vary very considerably. He 

 writes that he has carefully measured fifteen of the present species and fourteen of the Spotted 

 Eagle, and finds that the former average 67*2 by 55*2 millimetres, the largest measuring 70-0 by 

 •54*75 and 67 - by 55-25, and the smallest 60"5 by 51-5 and 63-0 by 50-5, whereas those of the 

 Spotted Eagle average 64T by 51T, the largest measuring 69 - by 54-25, and the smallest 6O0 

 by 50 - millimetres. Two eggs are usually deposited. 



Mr. Moschler' s collector writes that the parent birds may easily be obtained by laying in 

 wait near the nest ; for they are sure to return within half an hour after having been disturbed 

 and driven from the nest. 



It is only, comparatively speaking, quite lately that the specific distinctness of the present 

 species has been acknowledged by ornithologists ; for though described and figured by Dr. J. E. 

 Gray in 1832, and by Mr. Hodgson in 1833, it was generally supposed that both those authors 

 had described specimens of the Imperial Eagle in young plumage. Much credit is due to the 

 Indian naturalists for the careful researches made by them respecting the various plumages of 

 the Eagles ; and amongst those who have probably done most towards defining the plumages of 

 the present species I may name first Mr. A. O. Hume and Mr. W. E. Brooks, and then Mr. A. 

 Anderson, who came into the field rather later, after Messrs. Hume and Brooks had already been 

 some time at work, but has been equally painstaking and indefatigable in the cause. Mr. Brooks 

 first ascertained from the examination of a specimen from the Bosphorus that the species usually 

 called by Indian ornithologists Aquila bifasciata was identical with the present species, and sent 

 over a tolerably large series of skins for comparison. I, however, Avas until quite lately inclined 

 to believe that the eastern and western forms of the present species were distinct ; and there is 

 no doubt that, as a rule, Indian examples run considerably larger in size than those obtained in 

 Europe ; but, after having examined a large series from various localities, I find that Mr. Brooks's 

 view is undoubtedly the correct one, and the present species ranges from Eastern Europe into 

 India and South-eastern Siberia. I published some crude notes on this Eagle in the P. Z. S. 

 (1873, pp. 514-517), and there gave detailed measurements of four Indian and four European 

 specimens, so as to show the difference in size. 



I may here make a few remarks respecting the synonymy of the present species. Mr. R. B. 

 Sharpe (I. c.) has lately, without giving any reason for so doing, referred it to Aquila mogilnik 



