THE LESSEE FISHING EAGLE. 
223 
593. POLIOAETUS HUMILIS. 
THE LESSER FISHING EAGLE. 
Falco humilis, Miill et Schleg. Verh. Ned. overz. Bez., Aves, p. 47, pi. 6. Polio- 
aetus humilis, Wald. Trmis. Zool. Soc. viii. p. 35 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. Mus. 
i. p. 454 ; Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 6 ; Bl. B. Burm. p. 64 ; Hume, S. F. v. p. 130, 
viii. p. 82 ] Ourney, Ibis, 1878, p. 455 ; Hume, S. F. ix. p. 244 ; Oates, S. F. x. 
p. 177. Haliaetus humilis, Hume >^ I)av. S. F. vi. p. 17. 
Description. — Adult female. Above ashy brown^ the back and wings 
darker and more cbocolate-brown^ tlie feathers of the crown and hinder 
neck slightly fulvescent towards their tips ; lores and an indistinct eyebrow 
whitish ; cheeks and entire throat and breast_, as well as under wing-coverts^ 
entirely ashy brown ; the throat and fore part of the cheeks slightly varied 
with whitish streaks ; lower abdomen^ thighs_, vent and under tail -coverts 
white ; primaries black, whitish at base of inner web ; secondaries brown 
like the back ; tail pale brown at base^ gradually becoming darker brown 
towards the tip, which is not very broadly white ; a few whitish feathers 
on the bend of the wing ; bill and cere dusky lead-colour ; feet pale bluish 
white ; iris light yellow. Total length 23 inches, culmen 2*05, wing 16-2, 
tail 8'8, tarsus 2'85, middle toe 1'95. (Sharpe.) 
I have never procured the Lesser Fishing Eagle. Mr. Hume states that 
he received a specimen from Cape Negrais, and consequently it is entitled 
to a place in this work. The adult differs from the adult of the last species 
in having the tail pale brown with a white tip, and in being considerably 
smaller. A third species, P. plumbeus, Hodgs., occupies an intermediate 
position between the two in regard to size, and the entire upper surface 
of the tail is a uniform ashy brown. It is found along the base of the 
Himalayas from Assam to Afghanistan. 
The Lesser Fishing Eagle is found in the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and 
Celebes, and probably in Borneo. Mr. Hume also records it from Cachar. 
Its habits are probably similar to those of P. ichthyaetus. 
