CIRCAETUS.
Tarsus hare, covered with hexagonal scales ; nasal and rictal bristles well developed ; resemble Buzzards in heavy flight ; food, reptiles, fish, insects, etc. ; nest in trees, bushes, or cliffs ; egg, one, white. Genus chiefly African.
Circaetus gallicus (Gmelin). SHORT-TOED EAGLE. Fr. Jean-le-blanc ; Ger. Schlangenadler ; Itaf. Biancone.
Plumage varies ; above brown, basal part of inner web of primaries white, secondaries white with dark bars ; beneath throat and chest uniform brown or in some showing white margins ; or crown sometimes white with brown central streaks, and underparts almost entirely white with a few light brown tips. Bill greyish black. Cere yellowish to white. Legs and
feet dull flesh colour. Iris yellow. Wing 5 to-56o. Tarsus 9o-95. Bill from sere 36-39 (H.).
Breeds.—C. and S. France, Spain and Portugal, N. Africa (Morocco to Egypt), Italy to N. Germany and Poland, C. and S. Russia, Balkan Peninsula and Greece ; also \V. Asia to India and China. Migrates ; occurs in winter Arabia and C. Africa.