72 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



assistance, and also my friend, Mr E. E. Alston, for his friendly 

 and valuable criticism during almost the whole time I have been 

 engaged in collecting and arranging my materials.* 



A CCIPITRES (DiurniJ . Fam. il, FALCON IDA E. 



THE GOLDEN EAGLE.- 



AQUILA CERYSAETOS [Linnaeus). 



This fine species is still common, although not so abundant in 

 the county as at the time of Sir William Jardine's and Mr Selby's 

 expedition, in 1834. Mr Selby informs us that about that time 

 no less than 171 full-grown eagles, besides 53 young birds and 

 eggs, were destroyed in the course of three years ; and that the 

 proprietor paid to gamekeepers, shepherds, and others, the total 

 sum of £205, as rewards for their destruction. Of late years 

 Eagles have been protected \ and, although the directions issued 

 for their preservation have not, I fear, been carried out to the 

 letter, nevertheless I am able to state with some degree of 

 certainty, that both they and the Peregrine Falcon have in- 

 creased in numbers considerably since such orders were given. 

 It was, a few years ago, and indeed still is, a comparatively rare 

 circumstance to obtain a glimpse of the Royal birds, unless their 

 peculiar haunts are known beforehand, and the birds positively 

 sought for. In May, 1869, however, I had a near view of a grand 

 old Eagle. I was sitting in company witlv the gamekeeper of the 

 district and some shepherds, under a rock, on the side of a deep 

 narrow glen, when our conversation was interrupted by a rushing 

 sound overhead ; and, as we all looked up, the men said in sup- 

 pressed voices, and it seemed with respect in the presence — " The 

 Eagle." Down the narrow glen he rushed in the full impetus of 

 his flight, his wings half-folded to his sides ; a rich golden hue, 

 proclaiming the adult bird, plainly discernible, as the sun shone 



* It is only at somewhat short notice, owing partly to my absence from home, 

 that I have been made aware of the intention of the Society to print this 

 paper in the present Part of the Proceedings ; and, not having paid so much 

 attention to the birds of the county of late years, I am necessarily not so 

 well prepared to bring it fully up to date as otherwise would have been 

 the case. 



