SHORT-TAILED EAGLE. 99 



Strong, the claws less curved^ and the tail very 

 short i the legs are also naked or unfeathered: the 

 beak and claws are black ; the membrane at the 

 base of the beak yellowish; the head, neck, breast, 

 and body beneath are all deep black, forming a 

 fme contrast with the deep rufous of the back and 

 tail : scapulars dusky, with a blueish grey cast in 

 certain lights: all the small wing-coverts are of an 

 Isabella colour ; the quills black, edged outwardly 

 with silver-grey : the irides are deep brown. The 

 female is of paler colours, and is a fourth larger than 

 the male. The young birds have the beak horn- 

 coloured, with a blueish cere; the plumage brown, 

 less deep on the head and neck ; all the feathers 

 edged with pale brown, and the feet yellowish. 

 As they advance in age^ the rufous feathers begin 

 to appear on the head and rump, and the black 

 ones on the belly: and it is not till the third 

 moulting that they acquire their complete co- 

 louring. 



This species is very common in the whole 

 country of the Hottniquas^ and along the coast of 

 Ttrra de Natal as far as Caffraria. Like the 

 Vociferous Eagle, the male and female are in- 

 separable : they build their nest on high trees, and 

 the females lay from three to four white eggs : they 

 prey chiefly on dead animals ; yet often attack 

 young Antelopes and Ostriches, and lie in wait for 

 lambs, and sheep which happen to be in a weakly 

 state. Monsieur Levaillant has seen the female 

 feed her young by disgorging the contents of her 

 tiravv. It must therefore be confessed that this 



