238 Mr. J. H. Gurney's List of a Collection of Birds 
8. Helotarsus ecaudatus (Baud.). Short-tailed Bateleur. 
In the immature bird, the eye is brownish-yellow; legs and 
feet dull white; bill dull green, but black at the tip; cere light 
green. These birds feed upon carrion, appearing with the 
Vultures; they also prey upon moles. They settle in trees, and 
erect the crest when wounded ; they are rare, and extremely shy. 
9. Circaetus thoracicus (Cuv.). Black-breasted Harrier- 
Eagle. 
Not rare, but excessively wild, and generally soar about at a 
great height, far out of shot. The stomach of the specimen sent 
contained a chameleon and a green-headed lizard, both swallowed 
whole; it also feeds on snakes, both poisonous and innocuous. 
Iris yellow. 
10. Spizaetus occipitalis (Baud.). Occipital Iiawk-Eagle. 
Common: feed entirely on field rats and mice, which they 
swallow whole; watch from a tree for their prey. The crest is 
always erected when the bird is stationary, but lies flat on the 
head when it is flying. These birds on bright still days fre¬ 
quently soar to a great height, wheeling round and round and 
uttering their shrill cries; they are comparatively tame. Iris 
yellow. 
11. Aquila NiEvioiDEs (Cuv.). Tawny Eagle. 
Bare. Iris light brown; feet and cere light yellow; bill blue, 
but black at the tip. The CafFres assert that these birds carry off 
kids and the young of the antelopes ; they also feed on carrion, 
which I believe is their principal food. One specimen sent was 
shot whilst chasing a hawk that was carrying off a fowl on which 
it had pounced, and which the eagle appeared to covet. 
12. Haliaetus vocifer. Vociferous Sea-Eagle. 
Eye very light brown; skin round the eye and nostril light 
yellow; legs and feet dull white. These fine birds frequent the 
bays and lakes along the coast, feeding principally on fish, which 
they catch alive, by pouncing suddenly upon them when in 
shallow water; they then carry their prey to a tree to devour it, 
holding it fast by one foot while they tear it in pieces. These 
Eagles also capture ducks, or other wild fowl, that have been 
