Monteiro, the editor was induced to accept from Mr. Keulemans an
apparently circumstantial account of its breeding in the Cape Yerde
Islands. Hearing from many reliable authorities that only the
common. Neophron percnopterus was found in these islands, the
editor has repeated his enquiries of Mr. Keulemans as to his being
sure of the identification of the species, and he has lately admitted
that he believes the account of the breeding-habits refer to N. percnopterus
and not to G. angolensis. Much as he regrets the publication
of these notes, the editor believes that any one would have
followed his example in accepting such a detailed account of the
breeding of this rare species. The following description is from the -
Museum " Catalogue.”
Adult male.—General colour white, the following parts black:
scapulars except the very highest, which are mottled with white;
quills, the primaries for the most part white, excepting the tips
which are black, and the outer web which is more or less mottled
with black, the inner web less so; tail black with a very broad white
tip forming a terminal band; all the rest of the body white; head
slightly crested; cere grey; bare skin of face flesh-colour; feet rosy
flesh-colour; iris light yellow. Total length, 23 inches; culmen, 2'5
w i n g , 17-2; tail, 8-8; tarsus, 3-35.
Adult female.—Similar to male, but larger. Total length, 24‘5
inches; culmen, 2-7; wing, 17-0; tail, 9-5; tarsus, 3'5.
The young bird is brown, resembling in general appearance the
immature Egyptian Vulture.
Fig. Wolf, Zool. Sketches, pi. 38.
4 0 . H aliaetus v o c if e r . 1 African Sea-Eagle.
This fine Sea-Eagle is found generally in pairs, frequenting the
embouchures of rivers, lakes, and other parts of the colony, where
wood and water afford a congenial home.
Le Vaillant procured it on the Orange River. Mr. Chapman
brought it from the Zambesi, and we saw it as far North as Fazy. It
is common at the Knysna, forming an enormous nest of sticks and
rubbish. Yictorin also appears to have met with it in great numbers
at the latter place. Mr. Rickard notes it from East London where
it is called the “ Rock-Eagle.” He writes: “ A pair or two are
generally seen near the mouth of the Buffalo: they are said to breed
in the large Euphorbise on the river banks.”
In Natal, according to Mr. Ayres, it is found frequenting the bays
and lakes along the coast, and the same gentleman has recently
obtained specimens in the Transvaal.
Hr. Kirk gives the following note: “ On the lakes and rivers;
common among the mangrove creeks of the coast; bn the Zambesi,
above the great falls, and on Lake Nyassa; in fact, wherever the
forest comes down to the shore, or high rocks overhang it.” Mr.
Andersson writes as follows: " I t is not an inhabitant of either
Damara or Great Namaqua Land, but is tolerably common in the
Lake-region and its water-sheds, and also along the course of the
Okavango.” Senor Anchieta has quite recently procured it at
Humbe on the River Cunene.
This species feeds on fish, crabs, and reptiles, and will not refuse
carrion sheep, &c. (Le Vaillant says he has found antelope bones in
their nests), resorting usually to some bare rock or dead tree to
devour its quarry.
Mr. W. Atmore records that they destroy lambs, and while on a
visit to Mr. John Van der Byl’s farm, Nacht-wacht in the Strand-
Veldt, we found a young bird just shot. It was still in the immature
brown plumage, but had committed terrible depredations on our
friend’s young lambs, slaughtering one or two daily. He was shot
in the act and we had him to skin.
Le Vaillant says the eggs are white, and shaped like those of a
turkey, only larger. One was sent to us by Mr. A. F. Ortlepp taken
from a nest in the head of an old pollard willow growing on an
island in the Orange River. It was white, but not so pointed as the
egg of a Turkey.
Adult.—Head, breast, and top of back and tail pure white; wings
and back nearly black, the larger feathers edged with white; upper
parts of the wing reddish-brown. Belly and thighs deep-reddish
brown. Cere and legs yellow. Irides yellow. Length, 2' 8";
tail, 11".
Young.—Differs from the old bird principally in being more dingily
coloured and in not showing the contrast of colours as in the adult ;
thus the whole of the head, neck, and breast are more or less brown
in the young, though generally giving indications of approaching
whiteness, especially about the ears and lower breast, the crown
being the last to change; least wing-coverts blackish, with rufous
Margins, the rest dark brown, but the greater ones for the most part