Pithecophaga jefferyi Grant, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club (1896),
6, 17; Ibis (1897), 214, pl. 5, text figs. 1 to 4; Whitehead,
Ibis (1899), 90; Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 265; McGregor,
Bull. Philippine Mus. (1904), 4, 15; Phil. Jour. Sci. (1907),
2, sec. A, 297; Mearns, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. (1905), 18, 73;
McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 42.
Pithecophaga jefferi Clemens, Condor (1907), 9, 92 (photo).
Leyte? (Whitehead); Luzon (Ickis); Mindanao (Keller, Clemens,
Farrel); Samar (Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester).
"Top of head pale whitish buff with dark middles to the feathers,
which are rather narrow and pointed, especially those on the occiput,
which form a long full crest; general color above rich brown, most of
the feathers with paler margins, especially the quill-feathers and
wing-coverts; tail-feathers dark brown, the two median pairs with
wide dark bands; shafts of quills and tail-feathers creamy white;
under parts uniform creamy white; thighs and long flank-feathers with
reddish brown shaft-stripes. Length, about 840; bill, greatest depth
measured from base of cere to ridge of culmen, 38; from base of cere
to tip, 38; wing, 525; tail, 381; tarsus, 118; middle toe without
claw, 68; claw, measured in a straight line from base to tip, 37;
hind toe without claw, 46; claw, 51." (Grant.)
"Iris dull creamy brown, with an outer ring of brownish red, the two
colors melting into one another and not sharply defined; face and
base of bill dull french-blue, tip of bill black; legs and feet dull
yellow; claws black." (Whitehead.)
Grant's original description given above is quite sufficient to
identify this remarkable eagle, and agrees with a specimen before
me, but in at least two specimens which I have examined there were
conspicuous black shaft-lines on the feathers of chin and jaw. This
may have been due to a more adult plumage than the one described
by Grant. Respecting the size of this bird Grant says in part:
"The depth of the bill is greater than that of any known bird of
prey, except Pallas's sea eagle (Haliaëtus pelagicus), in which
it is sometimes a trifle greater, while such extreme narrowness,
compared with the depth, is quite unique in birds of this order. It
is also among some parrots, such as the black cockatoo (Microglossus
aterrimus), that we find a bill approaching this type, but in none
of these is it laterally compressed to the same extent. The high
vaulted nasal opening, set almost vertically, is another peculiar
character. The naked tarsi and feet approach those of the harpy eagle
(Thrasaëtes harpyia) in size and strength, and the scaling of the
tarsi is remarkably similar. Strange as it may seem, we have little
doubt that the harpy is the nearest known ally of the present species."
Measurements of several specimens have been given by me in the
Philippine Journal of Science and they need not be repeated here.
Genus SPILORNIS Gray, 1840.
Culmen straight to edge of cere, from there strongly curved to tip;
cutting edge of bill without notch or sinuation; a large nearly
naked space between eye and bill; occipital crest full; first primary
short, fifth longest and but little longer than secondaries; tarsus
feathered in front for a short distance, covered throughout with
hexagonal scales.
Species.
a1. Chest uniform brown without white spots. ... bacha (p. 227)
a2. Chest brown with numerous large white spots.
b1. Breast and abdomen darker; chin and throat
blue-gray. ... holospilus (p. 228)
b2. Breast and abdomen lighter; chin and throat light
gray. ... panayensis (p. 229)