SPOTTED EAGLE.

Aquila navius, Meyer.

LAigle criard.

Tus small but true Eagle receives its specific name from the spotted markings which characterize the
species in its youthful dress. During the first year this feature is much more conspicuous than in the speci-
men from which our figure was taken, and which was in its second or third year. When in its permanent
state of plumage, which is not attained till the fourth or fifth year, these markings become nearly effaced, the

 

 

whole of the plumage being then of a uniform rich shining brown. In many of its habits and manners it
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closely resembles the Golden Eagle, and others of its genus, though in size it is far inferior to that noble bird.
It is sparingly dispersed throughout Germany, the Pyrenees, and Russia; and from the circumstance of indi-
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viduals having been received from India, we may naturally conclude that those found in Europe are only a
scattered few, dwelling in the extreme limits of their true habitat. According to M. Temminck it is common

 

in Africa, and especially in Egypt; hence we may infer that its range is throughout the south-eastern portions
of the Old World.

It builds in high trees, and the eggs are said to be two in number, of a light colour thinly blotched with
reddish brown.

Its food consists of small quadrupeds and birds ; it is also well known that it feeds, particularly during the
summer, upon the larger kinds of insects which abound in its native regions. We are not aware that any
of the other true Eagles live upon this kind of prey, though we know it to be the case with many of the
smaller genuine Falcons.

The female, although not differing in colour, has the same relative superiority in size over the male as in

 

the Falconde generally.

In the adult, the whole of the plumage is of a fine rich glossy brown; the primaries black ; the cere and
toes yellow; bill black ; irides brown.

The Plate represents a bird in the plumage of the second year, three fourths of the natural size.