Cassell's book of birds; vol. 2Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Science
Cassell's book of birds; vol. 2
Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Birds
nest by the natives, and when reared exported to Europe.
* * * * *
The HAWK EAGLES (_Pseudaëtos Eudolmaëtos_, or _Asturaëtos_) constitute a
group distinguished by their comparatively short wings, that do not reach
the end of the very long tail, and by their high tarsi, feathered even to
the toes, which are armed with long and broad curved talons; the beak is
long, but powerful.
THE HAWK EAGLE.
BONELLI'S HAWK EAGLE (_Pseudactos Bonellii_), as the European
representative of this group is called, is about two feet four inches
long, and four feet ten inches broad; the wing measures one foot four
inches, and the tail ten inches. The female is three inches longer and
four inches broader. Upon the brow the plumage is white, as is also a
streak passing over the eyes; the top of the head and nape are brown,
darkly striped; the upper part of the back is white, its feathers having
blackish-brown spots upon their edges; the mantle is of a uniform dark
brown, and blackish brown at its extremity; the upper tail-covers are
white, mottled with brown; the throat, breast, and centre of belly white,
the shafts of the feathers spotted with black; the upper surface of the
tail is greyish brown, tipped with white, and marked with seven crooked
dark lines; the under side is whitish yellow, spotted with brownish grey.
In the young the top of the head is light red, the nape fawn colour, the
mantle light brown, each feather being bordered with reddish yellow; the
tail is greyish brown above, streaked ten times, and edged with white;
the lower portion of the body is principally of a pale yellowish brown,
the feathers having delicate dark streaks upon the shafts; the belly and
lower wing-covers are dirty reddish white, without any markings. The eye
is bronze colour, the beak greyish blue, the cere and feet greyish yellow.
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