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.
These Eagles are common in Germany, Greece, and South Italy, and more
numerous than any others in Spain and Algiers, where they frequent bare
mountains; they are also met with in north-western Africa and India,
always resorting to the hilly districts of the latter country. These
birds do not migrate, but wander at large in considerable flocks, except
during the breeding season, when they are extremely unsocial, prudently
permitting none of their companions to approach the nest. In disposition
the Hawk Eagle has much in common with the group whose name it bears,
equalling the Gos-Hawk in courage and hardihood, but far exceeding it in
bodily powers. When upon the wing its movements will bear comparison with
those of the Falcon, but when perched its attitude is much less imposing.
The eye of this species is peculiarly brilliant and fiery in its glance,
clearly indicating the disposition of its owner, whose fierce boldness
often leads it to contend with the largest and most formidable of its
race. Some writers tell us that the Hawk Eagle confines its attacks to
water birds, but this is not the case; in Spain it is numbered amongst
the most terrible invaders of the poultry-yard, whence it will carry off
a good fat hen under the very eyes of its owner. Jerdon mentions having
seen it in India seize upon and bring down Peacocks. The eyrie, which is
usually placed in holes of rocks, is but rarely met with; one found by
Krüper in Greece contained two eggs, the walls were formed of sticks, and
the interior was lined with down. The eggs differed from each other, both
in colour and markings, one being of a dirty white without spots, and the
other pure white, and distinctly speckled. The nest to which we allude
must have been an uncommonly warm cradle for the nestlings, for it was so
placed as to be exposed to the full force of the sun's rays.
* * * * *
The HOODED EAGLES (_Spizaëtos_) are slender in form, with short wings,
long tails, and high, powerful feet, one distinguishing character being
the possession of a more or less developed tuft upon the back of the head.