154 



Ceylon Ornithology. 



The above characters correspond closely with Mr. BlytFs 

 description of a specimen of this Eagle received from Midna- 

 pore. (J. A. S. B, vol. 1845, page 175). 



The paler and more numerous variety, is not unlike Falco 

 niveus, Temm. 



"White predominating. Head and neck pale white or rufous 

 with narrow mesial streaks of a more or less dark rufous colour. 

 Base of dorsal feathers white and the tips of some of the 

 longer ones also white. The cheeks, chin and throat imma- 

 culate. Breast and abdomen with a few rufous spots and 

 mesial streaks. Thighs indistinctly spotted with light rufous. 

 Tarsi white, immaculate. Occipital crest composed of white 

 and black plumes, some of the latter also white tipped. 

 Rather smaller than the dark variety. 



There is also a crestless variety of this species, in colour 

 resembling the last described bird. 



The crested variety is rather abundant at certain seasons 

 of the year in all the Maritime provinces and lower Kandyan 

 Hills. It is a bold and powerful bird, attacking full grown 

 fowls in the native villages. In the Northern provinces they 

 are frequently seen on the topmost branches of the Banyan 

 tree, where the nests of crows furnish them with dainty food. 

 At Kaduganava this Eagle is often seen soaring above Daw- 

 son's monument, sometimes alighting on its summit to devour 

 its prey ; it is not however a very common bird on the 

 Kandyan Hills. I procured only a few specimens from 

 Kandy and Trincomalie, whereas, as many as seven were 

 shot by Mr. Layard on one tree in the Court yard at Point 

 Pedro, 



Pontoaetus Leucogaster, Gmel The White Bellied 

 Sea Eagle. 



Syn, Falco leucogaster, Gmel. 

 Falco Blagrus, Daudin. 



