The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-06-03

more striking or OF greater In
terest than the mounted speci
men of the magnificent and
very rare eagle scientifically known as
P~ithecophaga Jefferyi. 1t Is at present
on exhibition in a special case In the
great central hall, where ii may more
readily be seen by the numbers of Wis
itors who throng the museum during
the holidays. Up to the present time
very few examples of this extremely
local species have been procured, and
the Individual now on view, which
lived for nearly six months at Re
gents's park, was the first OF its kind
to reach any geological garden. 1t was
captured on the Island of Mindanao
In a moose set by natives, the bait be-
Ing a small pig. Thanks to the efforts
OF Mr.. Willoughby p. Lowe it reached
London in the end of August, 1909, in
fine condition, and it's loss is greatly
to be regretted. AT the time of its
death it had almost completed its
mouit and is consequently in very fine
feather.
The mounting Of this eagle was in
trusted to Messrs. Rowland Ward, linn
tied. of Piccadilly. who have, with
great skill, removed it's entire skele-
ton, which is placed alongside the bird
1t will be seen that this difficult feat
has been performed without in any
way damaging the specimen. The
possession of a complete skeleton of
this remarkable raptor is of the ut.
most value in determining its true af-
finfties. 1t was originally contended
by the writer, when he first described
SHE species from a skin in 1879. that
the nearest ally Of P~ithecophaga was
the harp-eagle tThrasaetus harpyia) of
South America, and 1t has now been
clearly shown by Mr.. Pycraft that this
Is undoubtedly the case. and that it's
afinities are not with the serpent
eagles (Spilornis), as the late DIR.
Sharpe had supposed.
The enormous size of the skull.
which greatly exceeds hat Of the
harpy-eagle, is well shown in the &C
~companying photograph. The discov-
cry of this mighty bird of prey was
without doubt the most remarkable
of the late Mr.. John Whitehead's
achievements during his exploration of
the Philippine islands in 1895.
Mr.. Whitehead first visited Daman
In July, 1895, and made a fine collec-
ton of birds, but this was entirely de-
stroyed by fire through the home
bound ship being burned out In Sing
apore. IT'S an Ill wind that blows no
body good Owing to this misfor-
tune he was persuaded to return and
make good his loss. and 1t was during
his second visit in May, 1896, that he
obtained a male example Of this won
derful eagle. 1t Is certainly one OF the
o remarkable birds that has been
discovered in modern times.
The trees In the vast forests on the
Pacific coast of Samar are often very
high. some attaining the gigantic stat.
ure OF two hundred and forty feet or
more, as was ascertained by the actual
measurement Of fallen trunks. On
more than n occasion MIR. White
head had noticed this large eagle fy.
Ing along the edge of the forest and
had frequently heard its peculiar plain
tive cry. wan wau:" but il seemed
unlikely that he would be able 10 50.
cure a specimen. One morning. how
ever, his servant returned with this
-Vage, bird which he had shot with an
Old m~uzzle-loader, luckily putting one
buck hot into his neck He had been
fortunate enough TO see the bird perch
% one OF the highest trees, ard thus
obtained a chance of shooting II.
Though mortally wounded. the eagle
fastened It's talons round the
branch in its death grip and hung
nrEily fixed near the top of
the tree. As several other shots
tailed TO move It. the man, soon
er than lose the bird. climbed the tree
n secured the prize. The natives OF
Samar Knew this eagle well as a rob
Der OF their poultry and small pigs. but
said that 1t preyed chiefly on the green
monkeys tMacacus cynomolgus), !
which are the only animals sufficiently /
abundant In those forests to suppor |
such a large bird. That was the his |
tory Of the type-specimen which il |