The new era., 1910-05-26


~ more striking or of greater in
terest than the mounted spec.-
men Of the magnificent AID
very rare eagle scientifically known as
Pfthecophaga Jefferyi. 1t is at present
on exhibition in a special case in the
great central hall, where 1t may more
readily be seen by the numbers OF WIS.,
ttors 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 moose set by natives, the bait be-
ing small pig. Thanks to the efforts
of Mr.. Willoughby P. Lowe 1t reached
London in the end Of August. 1909. in
fine condition, and its loss ia greatly
to be regretted. At the time Of its
death 1t had almost completed Its
moult 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 Its entire skele-
ton, which is placed alongside the bird
1t will be seen that this dificult 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
finities. 1t was originally contended
by the writer. when he first described
the species from a skin in 1879, that
the nearest ally Of Pithecophaga was
the harp-eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia) of
South America. and 1t has now been
clearly shown by Mr.. Pycraft that this
is undoubtedly the case, and that Its
afiinities are not with the serpent
eagles (Spilornis), as the late DR..
Sharpe had supposed.
The enormous size OF the skull.
which greatly exceeds that 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 1885,
Mr. Whitehead first visited Daman
in July. 1895, and made fine collec-
tion of birds, but this was entirely de-
stroyed by fire through the home
bound ship being burned out in Sing
apore. TITS 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, 1895, that he
obtained q male example of this won
derful eagle 1t is certainly one of the
most 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 one occasion MT White
head had noticed this large eagle fly
dng along the edge of the forest and
had frequently heard Its peculiar plain
NAvO Wy W@oo W0o1 Oat ~ oCCmSu
unlikely that he would be able to se-
cure specimen. One morning. how
ever. his servant returned with this
huge bird which he had shot with an
old muzzle-loader. luckily putting one
buck shot into his neck. He had been
fortunate enough to see the bird perch
on one of the highest trees. and thus
obtained a chance of shooting 1t.
Though mortally wounded, the eagle
fastened its talons round the
branch in its death-grip and hung
drmiy fixed near the top OF
the tree. AS several other shots
failed to move 1t. the man. soon
Or than lose the bird. climbed the tree
and secured the prize. The natives OF
4amar knew this eagle well as rob.
ber Of their poultry and small pigs, but
said that 1t preyed chiefly on the green
monkeys (Macacus cynomolgus)
which are the only animals sufficiently
abundant in those forests to supper,
such . large bird. That was the his
tory Of the type-specimen which Il