Ceylon Ornithology. 153 



the iris golden; the toes yellow, and the nails black. 

 Hodgson* 



The above description is evidently of a young bird. An 

 adult specimen which I sent to Mr. Blyth has been identified 

 by that Naturalist with Sp. Nipalensis. This beautiful Eagle 

 is rarely seen, and that, too, only on the Alpine parts of the 

 Island. The only specimen I was so fortunate as to secure is 

 now in the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. It is 

 30 inches long* 



Spizaetus Lymnaettjs, var. Horsf. The Common Crested 



Eagle, 



Syn. Falco cirrhatus, Gmel. 



Falco cristatellus, Temm. 



Falco caligatus, var. Raffles. 



Falco niveus, var. Temm. 



Nizaetus Nepalensis, crestless var. Hogdson* 



This Eagle is seen of several shades of colour and markings* 

 Two most distinct varieties are seen in Ceylon, one much 

 darker than the other and with a more developed crest. The 

 darker variety may be thus described. 



Hair brown above, white beneath. Head and neck of a 

 rufous brown with narrow blackish mesial streaks. Chin^ 

 throat, and under part of body marked with broad dark rufous 

 brown longitudinal streaks. Tail barred broadly. Under 

 surface of alar and tail quills white and barred with dark 

 brown. Under tail coverts rufous. Under wing coverts 

 white and spotted dark brown. Thighs rufous and barred 

 with pale white. Tarsi white and freckled with brown - 

 Occipital crest black with white tips, 4 inches long. Length 

 1 foot 10 inches. Wing 13 inches* 



* The whole of the under parts from the head downwards were beau* 

 tifully barred rufous in the Ceylon specimen, 



VOL. II. X 



