96 THE FAEMEE's foes 



adventurous method of taking the eggs. We have also 

 much pleasure in reproducing a photograph of Dr. Stark, 

 taken in company with Messrs. Ivy and Pym. Messrs. 

 Stark and Ivy are each holding an egg of the eagle. T^Tien 

 these eggs were taken a freshly- killed Blue Buck ram was 

 lying in the nest. On one occasion fifty-eight skulls were 

 counted on the ground beneath the nest, comprising Blue 

 Buck, Ehebok, Stembuck and Eock Babbit. During recent 

 years the birds seldom drop bones below the nest. 



This pair of Eagles generally raise four young each season, 

 the young birds keeping in company with the parents imtil 

 the warm months. On one occasion the female was shot, 

 but the male found another mate within a couple of weeks, 

 and reared a brood shortly afterwards. 



The Crested Hawk-Eagle [Lophocetus occipitalis) is of a 

 very dark brown colour, and possesses a long crest of eight 

 to ten narrow feathers about 5 inches in length. Bird, 23 

 to M inches. This bird has been recorded from George, in 

 the Cape Colony, northwards to the Zambesi. Like the 

 Crowned Hawk-Eagle, it inhabits bush country, but unlike 

 it, is of a harmless disposition, living principally on reptiles, 

 frogs, and small rodents, such as rats. 



The Bateleur {Hehtarsus ecaudatus) is another bird which 

 should not find a place in this chapter, but as we have 

 included most of the eagles here, we also insert the Bateleur. 

 This species — called by the Boers the Berghaan — ^is a 

 handsome crested bird of a black colour, with the centre 

 of the back and tail rich maroon chestnut. The young 

 plumage is dull brown. It is easily recognisable by its 

 very short tail, and in its adult stage by its bright red legs.- 



It has a curious habit of turning somersaults in the air, 

 and feeds chiefly on small animals and reptiles. 



