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BIRDS. 



The Golden Eagle is perhaps the only one of our birds 

 of prey of which it can be said that protection, tardy 

 Golden yet not too late, is causing it to extend its 

 Eagle. breeding-range in the Scottish Highlands and 

 isles, where it is known as the "Black Eagle." It is 

 almost certain that this splendid bird, the largest of our 

 eagles, is more numerous to-day in parts of North Britain 

 than it was ten years ago ; and this is the work of the 



landowner. It also breeds in a few isolated localities in 

 Ireland. The bird feeds on mountain -hares and grouse; 

 but it also snatches an occasional lamb from the fold, and 

 will even eat carrion. The legs are thickly feathered to 

 the toes. Examples have been shot of a length of 3 feet. 

 The nest, in some high tree or inaccessible rock, is a large 

 platform of sticks with some softer lining. To this the 

 bird adds every year, so that, as do those of the raven, 

 old nests grow to unwieldy dimensions. E(i<j.% 2 or 3, 

 nearly 3 inches ; greyish, with red spots. 



