The BACHA (_Spilornis Bacha_), the species we select as an example of
this group, is described by Le Vaillant as from twenty-two to twenty-four
inches long, of which ten belong to the tail. The plumage is a dusky
greyish brown, darkest upon the upper parts of the body; all the feathers
upon the borders of the wings, lower portion of the breast, belly, and
legs are marked with three or four round, white spots, standing out, by
contrast, very distinctly from the dark body; the wings are blackish
brown, and the feathers upon their covers bordered with greyish white;
the crest is white, tipped with black, as are also the feathers on the
brow. The eye is brownish red, the cere and feet yellow, and the beak
greyish blue.
The Bacha is found throughout the interior of Southern Africa, Java,
Nepaul, and China. According to Le Vaillant, it frequents the most barren
and mountainous districts of the countries it inhabits, subsisting upon a
variety of small quadrupeds, reptiles, and insects. It passes a solitary
life, after the manner of our Buzzard, and is but rarely met with. The
voice of this species is very melancholy. The breeding season commences
in December; the eyrie, which is most carelessly constructed, is placed
in holes of rocks, and usually contains from two to three eggs. Bernstein
tells us that such of these birds as inhabit Java live upon the outskirts
of the woods, or amongst the groups of trees growing near the villages.
In such localities the nest is also built, a thickly-foliaged tree being
usually selected for the purpose. The same author describes the eggs as
being of a dull white, marked with irregular streaks and spots of reddish
brown, which usually lie thickest towards the two ends.
* * * * *
Other species of Crested Buzzards are met with in the Philippine Islands,
Ceylon, and India.