161 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



mediately ,. to the keeper's lodge with the news. The keeper^ while mounting 

 his pony, stated that this bird had been seen about the Forest four or 

 five days, but had always kept out of shot. When they both got back 

 to the place where the bird was sitting, the keeper concealed himself with 

 his gun, while the officer rode round the bird, endeaA'ouring to drive him 

 over the ambush. Off he went at last, but flew wide of the keeper. 

 Then came the riding part of the business, partaking more of the character 

 of a steeple-chase than of hunting. By dint of hard and difficult galloping 

 among rabbit-holes, thick ferns, and open drains, the Eagle was again 

 marked down in a clump of trees. Then followed a little stalking. The 

 keeper on bis pony and his companion on his horse advanced carefully; but 

 the cunning bird would not allow them to come near. The keeper then 

 got off his pony, and walked alongside the horse, which was of a grey colour, 

 and seemed not to alarm the bird so much as the pony, which was of a 

 dark colour. After a few steps, the keeper suddenly and quietly glided 

 behind a tree, and the grey horse and his rider advanced further. To 

 divert the attention of the suspicious bird, the latter made as much noise 

 as he could, tapping the saddle with his whip, riding among the thick 

 ferns, and pretending all the careless unconcern he could assume. In the 

 meantime the keeper got near, and fired both barrels. The bird flew away; 

 but had been evidently hard hit, for his flight was laboured and near the 

 ground. He alighted at last on the bough of a young tree, where his 

 drooping wings and fainting form made him look more like an old coat 

 hung up as a scarecrow than an Eagle. The pursuers then both rode up. 

 Again, although wounded and bleeding, the courageous bird started ofi"; 

 but he could not fly far. It was his last flight; for, in another minute 

 he dropt dead, shot through the right eye. The former shot had hit him 

 in the body, but had in no way damaged his plumage. Shortly afterwards 

 we inspected this noble bird, and found him to be a fine specimen of the 

 White-tailed Sea-Eagle. He measured from wing to wing eight feet; the 

 length of his body from his beak to his tail was three feet two inches; 

 and he weighed ten pounds. Fi'om his plumage, which was in cxeelleufc 

 condition, it seemed probable that he was a wild bird; there being no 

 marks either of cage or chain to indicate that he had even been in cap- 

 tivity. His t^kin has been well preserved by a Windsor bird-stuffer, in a 

 well-chosen attitude. 1'hree or four years ago, a Golden Eagle was shot 

 in the Forest, and presented by his Eoyal Highness Prince Albert to 

 Eton College." 



FROM "the times." 



Sparrow War. — In further illustration of the suicidal folly of Sparrow 

 extermination, permit me to quote the opinions on this subject of Buffon 

 and Bewick. The former says, — "The number of caterpillars a pair of | 



