ORD. RAPTORES.
TRIBE—FALCONIDÆ.
FAM. AQUILINÆ.
GENUS NISÆTUS—Hodgson.
PLATE I.
NISÆTUS GRANDIS—Hodgson.
YOUNG FEMALE.
LARGE HAWK-EAGLE.
Synon.—Nisætus niveus, Jerdon—Madras Journal of Literature and Science, No. 24.
Mhoringhee, in Hindustani—Salwa, in Teloogoo—Rajalee, in Tamool.
The group of rapacious birds to which this fine Eagle belongs, was first separated by Mr. Hodgson, in a paper published in the 6th volume of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and the genus is there characterized as follows:—" Bill short, at base as high as broad, distinguished by compression without feebleness, strongly festooned, nares large, vertical, elliptic, angulated and wholly lateral in exposure—wings short, firm, fifth quill longest—tail long, firm and square —tarsi elevate, but not feeble, wholly feathered—digits elongated, nervous, the inner fore and the hind highly developed—acropodia reticulate with three or four scales next each talon—talons immense, very unequal, strong and acute—head usually crested."—Mr. Blyth, the zealous and able Curator of the Museum of the Asiatic Society at Calcutta seems to think that this genus is not separable from Spizætus of authors. Not having had an opportunity of examining any of the African and South American Eagles classed in that genus, I cannot attempt to decide the point, but I think it likely there will be found some shades of difference, warranting at all events a sub-generic distinction. This I consider to be the more likely as the genus is not one of universal
