64 
SPILORNIS SPILOGASTER. 
wing, and I have lately examined a bird, Jiot fully adult, from Malabar, which has a wing of 18 - 2. It may be well 
to remark that this specimen, which has since passed into the Norwich Museum, and was noticed by Mr. Gurney 
(‘ Ibis,’ 1878, p. 145), does not differ much from immature examples of S. cheela, the breast and under surface being 
isabelline brown, and the white ocelli surrounded each by a bold dark margin, in addition to which the axillaries 
and under wing-coverts are differently coloured. The nearest affinities of 8. spilogaster are with the Malayan races, 
to which it approaches closely in size. It is, however, distinguishable from S', duvisoni from the Andamans, which 
species has the ocelli small, very round, and more confined to the lower parts. 
From the Javan Serpent-Eagle, also (the S. bacha of Mr. Sharpe’s Catalogue, and to which it has of late been referred), 
it differs in a marked manner, inasmuch as the latter species is very dark above and beneath, and possesses in its 
adult stage an almost black throat, the contrast of 8. spilogaster at that period ; the under wing is likewise different, 
the lesser coverts being coneolorous with the greater, and not paler as in the Ceylonese form. 
To the Sumatran bird, however, it approaches very closely, so much so that Mr. Gurney thinks (‘ Ibis,’ 1878, p. 100) 
the two races are identical. I have carefully examined the series from Sumatra in the Norwich Museum, in 
company with that gentleman, and though slight points of difference exist, they do not appear sufficient to rank 
as specific, in which case the species should boar the same name as the Ceylonese, as it is not identical with 
Sp. bacha of Java, with which it has been hitherto united. The differences referred to are the darker throat of the 
adult, and the lighter, less clouded pale tail-band, resembling somewhat that of S.pallidus bom Borneo. The four 
examples which constitute the series seem as a whole to be smaller than Ceylonese, although the wing in one 
attains 16’5. The race from Singapore is also not separable from the Sumatran ; but in its young stage it differs 
from Ceylonese immaturo birds (there are none forthcoming from Sumatra) in the subtermiual pale band being 
considerably broader. It is therefore possible that wlien a larger series is got together from Sumatra, containing 
old and young, the race may be found, as in the case of the Singapore bird, to differ from the subject of this 
article in its young plumage. 
1 subjoin a synopsis of the several species oi Spilornis referred to in the above observations, in order that the respective 
characteristics may be seen at a glance : — 
a. Spibrnis cheela. Hab. Himalayan region, Burmah, China, Formosa. 
Large size : wing 18‘0 to 19‘5 inches. . . 
Ad. Chest almost always crossed with narrow transverse stria); throat and cheeks iron-grey; 
ocelli of the lower parts bar-shaped, with a brown border. 
Ju V . Head black as in adult, but the dark hue separated from the white base of the feather by a 
fulvous patch ; throat and cheeks black. 
b. Spibrnis melanotis. Hab. Peninsular India. 
Smaller : wing 16 - 5 to 17 - 8 inches. 
Very similar to S. cheela in plumage. 
c. Spilornis spilogaster. Hab. Ceylon, Sumatra, and Straits Settlements? 
Smaller still : wing 15-3 to 1 6‘G inches. 
Ad. Chest uniform brown, without any transverse striae ; throat and cheeks pale iron-grey ; under- 
surface spots variable in shape and size, surrounded by a dark edge, which is also variable 
in intensity ; median under wing-coverts coneolorous with the chest. 
Juv. Head-feathers conspicuously tipped with white ; throat and cheeks blackish. 
d. Spilornis bacha. Hab. Java. 
Similar to 8. spilogaster in size. 
Ad. Very dark above and beneath ; throat and cheeks black-brown ; ocelli large, rounded, the edge 
scarcely darker than the ground-colour of the feather. 
e. Spilornis davisoni. Hab. Andaman Islands. 
Smaller than S. spilogaster : wing 15 - 0 inches (Hume). 
Ad. Ocelli small, very round, and not extending much above the abdomen. 
Distribution. — The Serpent-Eagle is widely distributed over the whole island, but is much more numerous 
in the dry forest-clad tracts of country than in the humid and more cultivated portions. It is a common bird 
