110 
SAVAGE SUDAN 
speeding by, when, like a bolt from the blue, a big falcon 
(probably a peregrine) shot down, sheering right into 
and through them and clean decapitating one of their 
number. Such was the pace and the force of impact that 
the victim, striking the water at an acute angle, re¬ 
bounded vertically upwards like a football.] 
To return to my two eagles shot at dawn:—The second 
was a white-headed river-eagle of the kind so common 
in the Sudan (and throughout Africa), a female, weighing 
6\ lb. The other was a dark-brown, falcon-built eagle, 
lb., almost unicolorous, feathered to the toes, but 
with white feet, the specific status of which is doubtful. 
The authorities at the British Museum classify it as a 
tawny eagle (Aquila rap ax), in the “dark phase” which 
that species undoubtedly assumes. That identification, 
with all deference, I am unable to accept. This white¬ 
footed forest eagle is common throughout the wooded 
plains of Sudan where subsequently I shot others, as 
well as several of the true tawny eagles both in their 
lighter and darker phases—some of each at their nests. 
Despite a superficial resemblance, I regard the two 
species as distinct, so (pending sufficient material becom¬ 
ing available to formulate a satisfactory biological analysis) 
shall provisionally christen that victim of mine :— 
White-Footed Forest Eagle {Aquila albipes ). Habitat, 
plains of Upper Sudan; type in British Museum, shot on 
White Nile, 29/1/13. Most nearly approaches the spotted 
eagle of Europe ( Aq . maculata ), showing its close affinity 
thereto by arrow-headed splashes on the lesser coverts and on 
the carpal joints of wings both above and below—especially 
during immaturity ; but essentially differing from that species 
(and equally from the tawny eagle in any phase) by having 
white feet, whereas in both the last-named the feet are bright 
yellow. Legs short, in the flesh barely reaching mid-tail. 
The tawny eagle, moreover, is essentially a camp-follower, 
coming regularly to “ kills,” which the above eagle, albipes , 
never does—a specific character not observable in a skin. 
