HA WK-EAGLES. 
22 I 
colour of the upper-parts is brown, and that of the head, neck, and under-parts 
fawn, with distinct black shaft-stripes to all the feathers. The range of this tine 
eagle includes the regions lying on both sides of the Mediterranean, from whence 
it extends eastwards through Palestine and Syria to Arabia. In India, where it is 
termed “ mohrangi ” (i.e. peacock-killer), it is generally only seen in hilly or jungly 
districts, although it occasionally resorts to neighbouring cultivated ground. It is 
common in the Nilgiri Hills of Madras, where its nests are often placed on such pre¬ 
cipitous cliffs as to be accessible only with the aid of a rope. Passing much of 
its time on the wing, and invariably visiting certain spots within its beat at almost 
the same hour day by day, this eagle may be seen when in repose perched either 
on the summit of some tall tree, or on some rocky prominence. Its prey consists 
of various game-birds, ducks, herons, and other water - fowl, as well as hares and 
other small mammals; and it is said at times to carry off trained falcons that 
are employed in hawking. It also occasionally kills peafowl, and is a great marauder 
in poultry-yards and dove-cots. Jerdon says, in reference to its pigeon-killing 
habits: “ On the pigeons taking flight, one of the eagles pounced down from a vast 
height on the flock, but directing its swoop rather under the pigeons than directly 
at them. Its mate, watching the moment when, alarmed by the first swoop, the 
pigeons rose in confusion, pounced unerringly on one of them, and carried it off; 
and the other eagle, having risen again, also made another, and, this time, a fatal 
swoop.” Nesting in the Nilgiris and Himalaya on rocky cliffs, in the plains of 
India Bonelli’s eagle more generally selects the tall clay banks of the larger rivers 
on which to build, although instances are known of the nest being placed in trees. 
In the plains of India the breeding-season is in December and January, but is 
delayed in the Himalaya till April and May. The nest is four to six feet in 
diameter, and varies in height from a few inches to a couple of feet; its summit 
being always finished off level, with scarcely any central hollow. The eggs, two 
in number, are oval in shape, and frequently unspotted, while they are at most but 
faintly blotched with pale yellowish or reddish brown upon a greyish ground. 
Bonelli’s eagle is a common bird in Spain; and a pair breed regularly upon the 
rock of Gibraltar. It is likewise fairly abundant in Palestine. 
Booted Hawk- The booted, or dwarf hawk-eagle (A". pennatus) is a far smaller 
Eagle. bird than the last, and may be compared in size to a kite, the total 
length of the female being only 24 inches. It may be easily recognised by the 
conspicuous white patch on the shoulder. In the greater relative length of the 
wing, and the generally brown colour of the iris, it differs from the two more 
typical members of the genus, and approaches the true eagles, although it has the 
characteristic long legs of the present group. This bird is subject to great variation 
with regard to the colour of the plumage of the under-parts; a difference which 
was long considered to be due to age, and has given rise to much discussion. Dr. 
Sharpe, for instance, considered that the dark-coloured variety represented on the 
left of our illustration on p. 222 was the immature dress, while the light individual 
on the right was an individual in the adult plumage. Dr. Scully, writing from 
observations made in Gilgit, states, however, that in that district “ the dark and light 
forms are about equally common, the difference in colour not being dependent 
upon sex.” And he adds that he captured a nestling with white under-parts, thus 
