78 



BIRD GALLERY. 



reptiles, while small mammals^ birds, frogs, fish, crabs, and insects are 

 also devoured. Another Oriental genus is represented by the Grey- 

 faced Buzzard-Eagle [Butastur indicus) (916) ; and the Batejeur Eagle 



[Case 51.] [Helotarsus ecaudatus) (917), which is placed next it, is a peculiar short- 

 tailed African form, and with its fiery-red face and feet is one of the 

 handsomest Birds of Prey. 



Next come the grand Sea-Eagles {Haliaetus), which are fully 

 represented by no fewer than five species. The White-tailed Sea-Eagle 

 or Erne {H. albicillus) (918), a few pairs of which still breed in the 

 British Isles, is also an autumn and winter visitor to our coasts; the 

 White-headed or Bald Sea-Eagle [H. leucocephalus) (919) is the North 

 American representative form, and the handsomest of all is perhaps 

 the Vociferous Sea-Eagle {H. vocifer) (920) from Africa. Few kinds 

 [Centre of fish, flesh, fowl, or carrion come amiss to these birds. In the large 

 centre Case a very fine series of Steller's Sea-Eagle (H. pelagicus) 

 (922) [PI. XV.] is exhibited ; the adult male, with the pure white 

 shoulders and tail, is an unusually light-coloured specimen of its kind 

 and no doubt a very old bird. 



[Case 52.] In this Case are placed the Kites and Honey-Buzzards : commencing 

 on the floor we find the handsome chestnut and white Brahminy Kites 

 {Haliastur) (923, 924), the lovely Swallow-tailed Kite [Elanoides fur- 

 catus) (925) from America, and the Common and Black Kites {Mitvus 

 milvus and M. korschun) (926, 927). Though once a common bird in 

 Great Britain, only a few pairs of the Common Kite or " Gled " have 

 escaped destruction and nest in this country at the present time j 

 the Black Kite has occurred twice as an accidental straggler to our 

 shores. 



[Case52.J Basa subcristata (928) represents the rather large genus of Cuckoo- 

 Falcons, extending from India through the Malay Peninsula to 

 Australia, Madagascar, and Africa. They are all rare birds, and 

 are remarkable in having two "teeth" in the upper mandible. Next 

 to it, will be seen Swainson's Kite [Gampsonyx swainsoni) (929), a 

 beautifully marked diminutive form from Central and South America, 

 the curious Hook-billed Kites (Leptodon) (930), their slender-billed 

 ally {Rostrhamus leucopygus) (932), and the handsome Lead-coloured 

 Falcon [Ictinia plumbea) (933), all from the same continent. After the 

 Square-tailed species (io/jAoic^miaiswra) (934) from Australia, we come 

 to the Black-shouldered Kite {Elanus) ; aspecituen of E. cmruleus (936) 

 is said to have been obtained in Ireland in 1862, but the evidence 

 appears to be insufiicient. Lastly the curious Double-toothed Falcon 

 [Harpagus bidentatus) (937), which resembles the Cuckoo Falcons 

 [Baza) in having the upper mandible doubly notched, is worthy of 

 special notice. 



