five years in my possession, and which is now personified in the noble lit¬ 
tle representative of its species in the Zoological Gardens. 
When a chick he was fed upon lizards, which were first given him cut up, 
but as soon as he could stand up, he quickly learned to devour them in the 
orthodox way, beginning at the head and finishing at the tail, which he al¬ 
ways swallowed whole. As it grew older, whenever food was thrown to it, 
and more particularly in the case of small birds, or anything which it was 
fond of, it seized the prey with both feet, squatted down on the tarsi, and 
spread forward its wings In a line with its head, at the same time expanding 
its tail and completely covering up its prize from view; it would then drop 
i ts head, looking at the coveted morsel, - and commence uttering its querulous 
note, endeavouring to flap its wings when approached by anyone, and altoge¬ 
ther presenting a very singular appearance. This was its habit through 
life, and was more particularly practised when in company with other Raptors 
in the same aviary, being evidently its mode of shielding its prey from out¬ 
ward attack. He had the same method of standing on one leg 'and resting the 
other on the knee joint with the tarsus thrust out from the perch, and the 
toes clenched, that I have observed in other eagles, and which is no douot a 
muscular exercise. 
He would now and then seize a stone and fly round the aviary with it, at 
other times endeavour by main force to tear up a clod from the floor of his 
aviary. During his first year he was a timid bird, sometimes retreating 
into a dark corner or cot inhabited by a Wood Owl (Syrnlum Ochrogenys), and 
stretching himself, would remain there for hours; he likewise frequently 
allowed his nocturnal companion, who fed as much by day as oy night, to rob 
him of his meat. Very different however, was his nature after the first m 
moult. He then developed both in muscular strength and courage, and became 
a bold and fierce little tyrant, commencing by attacking his companion, and 
finishing by killing him outright. He displayed great agility and power 
of flight, one day darting up and seizing through the bamboos of the aviary 
roof, a magpie robin that was perched upon it; at other times he would dart 
from his perch, arid catch in the air birds, rats, and other food thrown in t< 
him, He was fond of bathing, and invariably stood out in heavy showers of 
rain, in which he would expose himself to a thorough drenching, and then dry 
himself in the sun with his wings extended. 
The most singular arid interesting point in his disposition was his mani¬ 
fest display of anger and excitement accompanied by a particular note of 
displeasure, consisting of a shrill scream, followed by a champing sound. 
