583 



9 



cliff was as nearly perpendicular as might be ; and it really did seem as if getting into that nest 

 would be no easy matter. However, some six feet east of the nest passed a sort of fault or 

 crack, which traversed the cliff at an angle of about 45 degrees ; and down this, a stout rope 

 round the waist, with infinite trouble and no little danger, a way was found after all to the nest. 

 Once there, it was a firm platform of sticks at least five feet by three and a half. In the centre 

 of this a circle about twenty inches in diameter was smoothed over with fine green twigs of 

 the Peeloo (Salvadora persica) ; and on this, again, a circle about a foot in diameter was 

 smoothly spread with the green leathery leaves of the same tree ; and on these reposed the 

 coveted treasures, two fresh eggs. One of these eggs was bluish white, blotched and speckled 

 very feebly, but thickly towards the larger end, with pale reddish brown. It measured 3 inches 

 in length by 2T9 in breadth. The other was almost pure bluish white, with scarcely any traces of 

 markings anywhere, and measured 2 - 81 in length by 2T3 in breadth. I had always felt morally 

 certain that the egg figured as this bird's by Dr. Bree never belonged to this species, but was 

 probably only a well-coloured Neophron's ; but now the thing was certain. No aquiline bird that 

 laid the eggs I had in my hand could ever have laid an egg similar to that given in the ' Birds 

 of Europe not observed,' &c. 



" A few days later, in similar cliffs a few miles higher up, I found another nest. This time, 

 however, the platform was much larger, and was only about six feet below the top of the cliff. 

 One could look into it without the slightest difficulty ; and a Jackal could assuredly have made 

 his way there with ease, as even I got down to it with help and without a rope. The platform 

 of sticks was fully five feet in diameter ; there was the same smooth patch of twigs and smaller 

 smooth circle of green leaves, this time of the Peepul (Fiats religiosa) ; and, as in the former case, 

 on the leaves, about five inches apart, lay two fresh eggs. These had a bluish white ground 

 blotched all over, but thinly and very feebly, with pale dingy reddish brown ; and they measured, 

 the one 2'62 by 2, and the other 2 - 51 by 2. The eggs were therefore considerably smaller than 

 those above described, while the female, which I shot as she left the nest, was a much younger 

 and smaller one than the magnificent bird first killed." 



Though this Eagle breeds not unfrequently in Spain, its eggs taken in Europe are still, 

 comparatively speaking, a rarity in collections, and I only possess one, collected by Dr. Kriiper, 

 which is white, here and there sparingly marked and blotched with pale red, and in size measures 

 2f£ by 2^ inches. 



In general character this Eagle is much more of a Falcon than any of its allies ; and its 

 flight is also said to resemble that of some of the Falcons or Hawks. Some observers say that it 

 resembles the Goshawk on the wing; and Mr. W. H. Hudleston writes (torn. cit. p. 293) as 

 follows: — "The falconine character of their flight was very obvious as they dashed about in the 

 air at a great height, sometimes appearing to make a summerset backwards (reversing the action 

 of the tumbler) in the excess of their indignation against the robbers who were looking at them." 



The specimens figured are, on the one Plate a young female from Butrinto and a nearly 

 adult bird from India, on the second Plate a nestling from Acarnania ; and on a Plate with a 

 large female of Aquila pennata, showing the white mark on the shoulder, I have figured an 

 unusually small male, in very adult plumage, from Tangier, shot at the nest. Excepting the 

 nestling, which belongs to Mr. H. Seebohm, all these specimens are in my collection. 



