LOPHOTKIORCHIS KIENERI. 
45 
and most of the breast white, the rufous hue appearing on the lower breast and extending downwards, while 
the shaft-stripes do not extend above the breast. 
Obs. This interesting genus of Eagles, though comprising very few species, is widely diffused, taking both the Old and 
the New Worlds into its range. Until lately but two were known, the present and the large L. isidorii from 
Columbia, South America ; recently, however, a third, L. lucani (Sharpe and Bouvier), has been added from the 
Congo river, S.W. Africa. 
Distribution. — This rare and handsome Eagle has only lately been discovered in Ceylon ; and the gentleman 
who has the merit of adding it to the avifauna of the island is Mr. S. Bligh, of Lemastota. The first Ceylonese 
example was procured by him in Kotmalie, a district at the base of the Nuwara Elliya ranges, lying at an 
altitude of about 3500 feet. It was shot on the 20th of October, 1873, and was a male in adult plumage. 
The next example was killed near Kandy at the latter end of 1875, and taken to Messrs. Whyte and Co/s 
establishment, whence it passed into the Colonial Museum at Colombo ; about the same time a young bird 
(above described) was shot near Peradeniya by a native, and procured from him by Mr. Whyte. Mr. Bligli 
met with another, which was seen close to his bungalow, on the 6th of June 1875, but evaded his pursuit ; and 
in January 1876 I was equally unsuccessful in procuring another at Nalanda, a district to the north of the 
Matale hills, which are celebrated for the vai’iety of Raptors found in their vicinity. 
It has as yet, therefore, proved quite a hill species, which is in accordance with its habits in the Hima- 
layas and elsewhere in the hills of Borneo and Malacca. 
This Eagle is an inhabitant of the northern parts of India ; but has not yet been detected in the south, 
which is the more strange when viewed in conjunction with its not unfrequent occurrence of late years in 
Ceylon ; this, however, only substantiates the theory of the strong affinities of the Ceylonese avifauna with 
that of Malayana, in which region this Eagle is rather widely distributed. 
According to Jerdon it is found in Central India, and Tickell obtained it near Chaibassa; but it has not 
been procured from there of late yearn ; and Mr. Hume doubts if these specimens really belonged to the true 
kieneri, which was described originally from the Himalayas by Sparre, from a specimen at that time in Prince 
Essling’s collection. 
Along the southern slopes of the Himalayas it has been occasionally met with, particularly in Darjiling, 
Sikhim, and the eastern portions of the range; and in the collections made by Mr. Inglis for Mr. Hume in 
Cachar one example is noted. It is, however, rare in that district as everywhere else. Mr. Inglis writes 
(‘ Stray Feathers,’ vol. v. p. 9) : — “ I was lucky enough to secure the only specimen of this handsome bird that 
I ever met with ; I got it while on a fishing excursion on the Cheerie, close to the Cacharee Degoon Ponjee, 
at an elevation of 2000 feet/'’ 
From North-east India it extends southwards into Malacca, and thence into the islands of the archipelago. 
It has been procured in Java and Borneo, in the latter by Mr. Wallace, and from the former it has been sent 
to the Norwich Museum. From the island of Batchian, one of the Moluccas, there is likewise a specimen at 
Norwich, this locality (which is in lat. 0° 40 f S. and long. 127° E.) being at present the furthest known limit 
of its range into the Malay islands. 
Habits. — The Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle inhabits forest-clad hills, frequenting, in search of its prey, 
open glades, valleys, clearings, and patnas. In Ceylon, it is therefore found about the coffee- estates, which 
are bordered by wood and studded with dead trees, the latter furnishing it with an advantageous post of 
observation. It is a bird of truly predatory disposition, and is as bold and courageous as it is handsome. 
Mr. Bligli remarks, in his note on the capture of his bird, contained in the ‘ Journal of the Ceylon Asiatic 
Society’ for 1874, that it was “sailing just above the trees in circles in a very buoyant and graceful manner, 
rarely flapping its wings. My little terrier/-’ he says, “was frisking about some thirty yards off, and on 
arriving over the spot, the bold bird at once altered its flight, hovering in small circles with a heavy flapping 
of the wings, evidently with a view of examining the dog/'’ He further remarks that when brought to the 
ground with a broken wing, “ it put itself in an attitude of defence at once ; and a formidable bird it looked, 
with beak open, head thrown back, wings spread, and talons ready for action, and its beautiful brown eyes 
looking so fierce/’ 
