File:The royal natural history (1893) (14598329297).jpg

Identifier: royalnaturalhist47lyde (find matches)
Title: The royal natural history
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Lydekker, Richard, 1849-1915 Sclater, Philip Lutley, 1829-1913 Frostick, W. B., former owner. DSI Brooks, W. T., former owner. DSI
Subjects: Zoology Natural history
Publisher: London and New York : Frederick Warne & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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re of a deep glossy black, the same hue also obtaining on the scapulars; contrasted with which is the chestnut-maroon of the hinder part of the neck and the greater part of the back. The wing - coverts are brown with a bronzy sheen; the primary quills blackish, externally shaded with grey; while the secondaries are mostly grey with white tips, although the innermost have the sooty hue of the scapulars. The tail, 212 DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. with its inferior coverts, is chestnut-maroon, like the back ; the under surfaceof the wino-s being mainly grey and white. The cere and naked skin m frontof the eyes,^ogether with the feet, are of a deep coral-red, while the ins is brown,and the beak black. Such are the striking colours of the ordinary form of thebateleur eagle, although individuals have been ol^tained in which the chestnut-maroon of the back is replaced by creamy fulvous. Such birds have been regardedas representing a distinct species, but it is suggested by Dr. Sharpe that they may
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BATELEUR EAGLE (J Hat. Size). prove to be the fully adult condition of the ordinary form. The females attain alength of 25, and the males of about 21 inches. Visitors to the eagle-house m theZoological Societys Gardens in Regents Park may perhaps think that we haveexaggerated the colour of the cere and face in the bateleur eagle, as they will findthese in the captive birds of a pale orange-yellow tint. This fading is, however,solely due to the effects of captivity; the same change showing itself m captivespecimens of the Accipitrines known as caracaras. The bateleur eagle is a commonbird in many parts of Africa, preferring mountains to plains, and generally HARRIER-EA GLES. 213 frequenting open districts rather than forests. In Abyssinia, where it is by nomeans abundant, it has been obtained from considerable elevations in tliemountains. Mr. Blanford describes them as soaring at a great height, their pointedwings and extremely short tail rendering them no less conspicuous than thecont

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