VOCIFEROUS EAGLE. 9^ 



form an agreeable contrast with the white of the 

 others which extend in a pointed form down the 

 back : the wing-feathers are black, and as it were 

 finely marbled with rufous and white on their 

 exterior sides: the lower part of the back and 

 upper tail-coverts are black intermixed with dull 

 Mdiite: between the beak and eye is a bare yellow- 

 ish skin, beset with scattered hairs: the base of 

 the beak, the legs, and the feet are also yellowish: 

 the feathers of the thighs descend about half an 

 inch down the leg in front : the beak and claws 

 are of a blue horn-colour: the craw, which is 

 slightly visible, is covered with long, frizzled down : 

 the tail is slightly rounded^ the side feathers being 

 shortest, and the others successively lengthening 

 to the two middle-feathers. The female has much 

 less of the black in its plumage ; the white is less 

 pure, and the rufous brown less deep : the female 

 however is stronger than the male. The wings, 

 when closed, reach to the extremity of the tail^ 

 and their extent, when spread, is nearly eight 

 feet. It is not till the third year that this species 

 acquires its full colours. In its first year the grey 

 prevails instead of the white : in the second tiie 

 white commences; and in the third the plumage 

 appears in complete beauty. The male and female 

 are inseparable companions, hunting their prey, 

 flying, and resting together. Like most other 

 Eagles, they place their nest either on the top of 

 lofty trees, or on the points of rocks, and line it 

 with wool, feathers, &c. the eggs are white, and 



