PALCONID^ HALIAETUS 309 



The following are localities : Cape Colony-^George (Atmore), 

 Knysna (Victorin), Albany, Stockenstroom, Port Elizabeth and East 

 London (Layard), Port St. John's (S. A. Mus.); Natal — Durban to 

 Maritzburg and Zululand (Woodward) ; Transvaal— Near Barber- 

 ton (Kendall), Oliphants river in Zoutspansberg (W. Ayres). 



Habits. — This remarkable bird can be distinguished at a glance 

 by its long crest, which is usually erected when it is perched, and by 

 its white legs, which are conspicuous against its chocolate-brown 

 plumage. It is found chiefly in wooded districts intersected by 

 rivers and may be frequently espied seated on a bare post or con- 

 spicuous position watching for its prey, which consists of small 

 mammals such as rats, lizards, frogs, and toads. It is by no means 

 bloodthirsty and seldom if ever kills other birds. When disturbed 

 it makes off for but a short distance, being the reverse of shy, and 

 has hence acquired its Zulu name. It has a loud piercing shriek 

 to which it often gives vent when flying high in the air and 

 wheeling round and round. 



No one appears to have recorded any observations on the 

 nesting habits of the Crested Hawk Eagle except Levaillant ; he 

 states that it builds in trees and that the nest is lined with wool 

 and feathers ; two eggs, almost round, spotted with reddish-brown, 

 form the clutch. 



Genus IX. HALIAETUS. 



Type. 

 Haliaetus, Savign. Syst. Ois. d'Egypte, p. 254 (1810). ...H. albicillus. 



Bill stout, the edge of the upper mandible distinctly festooned, 

 nostrils rounded ovals with a bony margin ; sides of the face from 

 round the eye to the cere bare of feathers ; a crest of lanceolate 

 feathers; wings somewhat rounded, the difference between the 

 primaries and secondaries about two-thirds the length of the 

 tarsus ; tail short, about one-third the length of the wings, 

 which just about reach the tip ; tarsus feathered about half way 

 down in front, the bare portion not so long as the middle toe and 

 covered with six to eight transversely enlarged scutes ; claws long, 

 sharp, curved, and grooved beneath. 



Some ten species of this genus are known, distributed over the 

 coasts and larger rivers of all the continents except South America. 

 Only one species, here described, inhabits Africa proper though a 

 second is found in Madagascar. 



