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Show 516 MR. H. E. DRESSER ON CERTAIN EAGLES. [May 20, The following are the comparative measurements of the four European and four Indian Eagles of this group that I have examined:- Aq. bifasciata, No. 1. Loyah, Feb. 20, ? .. „ 2. „ Jan. 26, g .. „ 3. „ Feb. 10, ? .. „ „ 4. Nubbegunge,Dec.4, <J Aq. orientalis. Bosphorus, March 4, $ .. Vole*a Mav r? „ „ July, juv. $ Culmen. 2*60 2-65 2-65 2-75 240 2-40 2-70 2-45 Height of bill at base. 1-2 11 11 1-2 11 10 11 1-05 Wing. 230 230 25*0 22-5 20*75 21-2 230 20*0 Tail. 12-75 120 13-5 11 9 10-7 107 11-75 10-75 Tarsus. 4-40 3-73 3-70 3*60 3*75 3-7 3-8 3-7 Middle toe without claw. 2-2 1-95 2-4 1-9 21 2-1 23 2-3 The next question that arises is as to what Pallas's Aquila clanga really is. His description is so vague that it is almost impossible to make it agree with either the Spotted Eagle of Northern Europe, that of Southern Europe, or the bird referred to above under the name of Aquila orientalis. I think it most probable that Naumann was correct in considering that Pallas referred to the large race of Spotted Eagle which is met with in South-eastern Europe, and which, though larger in size, in immature plumage closely resembles the young of the Spotted Eagle of Northern Germany, having also a round nostril, which Aq. orientalis has not. Since I wrote the last paper on Eagles which I exhibited before this Society in December last, I have, as before stated, ascertained that the young of Aq. orientalis is not spotted, and have found reason to surmise that the Spotted Eagle found in South-eastern Europe is the same species as that met with in India. I have referred to the Indian spotless Eagle under the name of Aquila bifasciata, Gray and Hardw., to the Indian Spotted Eagle as Aq. vittata, Hodgs., and to the Volga bird, which is so closely allied to Aq. bifasciata, as Aquila orientalis, Cab.; but I a m not at all sure that these names will all stand, nor can I say any thing decided on this point until I have carefully worked out the synonymy of the whole of the Spotted Eagles. Cabanis, in proposing the name of Aq. orientalis for the Volga bird (Cab. Journ. 1854, p. 369, footnote), expressly states that the specimens he has examined are three birds obtained from Sarepta through M r . Moschler, which are now in the Berlin Museum ; but he does not appear to have put his finger on the chief characteristics, as he speaks of it as being similar in character to Aquila neevia, but as being a much larger and more powerful bird : " sie haben also die Kennzeichen der A. neevia, weichen aber von dieser durch auffallende Grosse und Starke sehr ab " is what Dr. Cabanis says on the subject; and did he not expressly refer to Sarepta specimens, I should be inclined to believe that he had before him examples of Aquila vittata ; but, like almost all our European ornithologists, Dr. Cabanis has mixed up these Eagles together, and it is |