Circus. BIRDS. ACCIPITRES. o3 



tail is white. In this state, it is the Chrysaetos cauda annulo albo chicta of 

 Will., 28 ; Falco fulvus of Lin. S yst. Nat. i. 125 ; or the Ringtail Eagle, or Black 

 Eagle of Pen. Brit. ZooL i. 1G5. In the opinion of some, the ringtail is consi- 

 dered as a distinct species ; but the facts stated by Temminck and Selby de- 

 monstrate its connection with the Golden Eagle. — See Wern, Mem, voL iv. 

 428 and 434. — Preys on sheep and deer. 



19. A. albiciUa. The Erne. — Tarsi half feathered, and 



plated. Tail not longer than the wings. 



Halhetus, Will. Orn. 29. Sibb. Scot. 14 Falco ossifragus, Linn. Syst. L 



124 — Cinereous Eagle, Venn. Brit. ZooL L 170 Falco albicilla, Temm. 



Orn. L. 49 — W; Mor Eryr, Eryr Cynffbnwyn ; G, Iolair— Near the 

 6ea-coast, not rare ; whence termed Sea Eagle. 



Inferior in size to the preceding. Bill whitish ; hides light-brown ; cere 

 and feet yellowish-white. Plumage dusky-brown, tinged with cinereous. 

 Tail wholly white. Breeds in rocks. Eggs two ; of a white colour, with a 

 few reddish spots. In the young, the plumage is deep-brown, with the mar- 

 gins of the feathers lighter coloured. Bill and iris black. Tail with the ba- 

 sal half whitish-grey, with irregular brown spots on the outer webs ; the ex- 

 tremity brown. In this last state it is the Sea-Eagle of Pennant, Brit. ZooL i. 

 167- ; the Haliretus and Pygargus of Willoughby ; and the Vultur albicilla 

 and F. ossifragus of Linnseus, all which belong to this species, and seem to be in 

 intermediate stages of plumage. Feeds on fish, aquatic birds, and land annuals. 



The following device for catching the eagle is said, in the Statist. Account, 

 yoL xxi. p. 221., to be successfully practised in Sutherland. The fox, it is 

 added, is readily secured by the same snare. ' k A miniature house, at least the 

 wall part of it, is built on ground frequented by the eagle, and an opening 

 left at the foot of the wall sufficient for the egress of the bird. To the out- 

 side of this opening, a bit of strong skainy (cord) is fixed, with a noose formed 

 on one end, and the other end returning through the noose. After all this 

 operation is finished, a piece of carrion is thrown into the house, which the 

 eagle finds out and perches upon. It eats voraciously ; and, when it is fully 

 satiated, it never thinks of taking its flight immediately upwards, unless dis- 

 turbed, provided it can find an easier way to get out of the house ; for it ap- 

 pears that it is not easy for it to begin its flight but hi an oblique direction ; 

 consequently, it walks deliberately out at the opening left for it, and the 

 ekainy being fitly contrived and placed for the purpose, catches hold of, and 

 fairly strangles it." 



Gen. XII. CIRCUS. Hen-harrier.— -One-third of the 

 tail extending beyond the wings. 



20. C. cyaneus. — The third and fourth quill-feathers of equal 

 length. 



Pygargus, Will. 40 — Subbuteo, Sibb. Scot. 15 Hen-harrier, Perm. Brit 



ZooL L 193 — Mont. Lin. Trans, ix. 182. Orn. Diet. Suppt Falco cy- 

 aneus. Tern. Oni. i. 72 — IF, Barcud glas, Bod tinwyn; G, Ant-eun 

 fiorm. Breid air toin. — Not uncommon. 



Length 18, breadth 40 inches; weight 13 ounces; bill dark blue; cere and 

 legs yellow ; plumage grey ; under and upper tail-covers, belly, and below the 

 wings, white. Behind the nostrils, and above the eyes, numerous black hairs. 

 The 1st quill, equal in length to the 7th; 2d and 5th nearly equal; 3d and 

 4th longest, and nearly equal. Inner webs of the first four, and outer webs 

 of the 3d, 4th, and 5th abbreviated from the middle; 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, black; 

 1st and Gth, greyish ; rest grey. Tail, with the two middle feathers uniform ; 

 the others fighter coloured, and barred with dusky on their inner webs. The 

 ear-feathers, forming a large concha, like a $ufF oh the sides of the neck, dls. 



