5G8 LORD LILFORD ON RAPTORIAL BIRDS IN THE LILFORD AVIARIES. 
amongst ornithologists, and to no one are we all so much indebted 
tor the elucidation of these difhcnlties as to our distinguished 
member, Mr. John Ilenry Gurney, »Sen. 
Of the Tawny Eagle (Aiiidla rapax ) I have now one specimen 
at Lilford. It has been in my possession for a good many years, 
hut as I have had several of the sjiecies in captivity at various 
times, and have not my note-hooks at hand for reference, I cannot 
positively state Avhen I purchased it, hut I think that I am well 
Avithin the mark in saying that it has been at Lilford for at least 
twenty years. It is, I believe, a female, and though it has for seA'’cral 
years past dropped one of its wings it is in very perfect plumage, 
and apparently in good health. This bird, • and all the others of its 
species that I have possessed alive, were bought from one or other 
of the two well-known London dealers, Mr. C. Jamrach and 
jNIr. Castang, and said to. have been received from Mogador. My 
bird is in the tawny mottled plumage so well represented by 
Mr. Wolf in the ‘Ibis’ for 1865, and has changed very little during 
its stay at Lilford. 
It appears to be a well-established fact that there are two distinct 
races of Aqnila rapax in Northern and hiorth-Avestern Africa, one 
of which, Avell represented as above mentioned, alters but very 
slightly Avith advancing years ; Avhilst the other, Avhich I may call 
the light-coloured form, changes by sIoav degrees from a light 
earthy brown to a yelloAvish cream colour. Of course I am only 
using general terms, Avithout going into any details of plumage. 
I am quite convinced that I liaAm seen A<piHa rapax in Andalucia, 
as stated in the ‘Ibis’ for 1865 by me (p. 172). Lut Avhen my friend 
Colonel Irby and Mr. Dresser established the identity of the many 
cream-coloured Eagles’ skins received from Spain A\dth Arpdkt 
adalberti, it Avas generally assumed that I had been mistaken ; and 
although my conviction remained unshaken, I could not produce 
a Spanish specimen of this Eagle, and Avas content to keep my 
opinion to myself. Of course it is impossible for me to prove 
positively that I saAV a bird that I cannot produce in evidence ; but 
I am very glad to sa}", that Avithin the last feAV Aveeks, I received 
a male Eagle killed near Malaga, Avhich Avas exhibited by Colonel 
Irby at a meeting of the Zoological Society on May the 5th inst., 
and alloAved by all those interested in the subject to be a specimen 
of the light-coloured race of Aqidla rapax. My living bird at 
