76 BlilTISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



sliglit lining to the hollow in which the eggs are 

 dejDosited. 



Eggs. — Four, pear-sliaped ; ground colour varies 

 from greenish-white to cream or huff of different 

 shades, hlotched and spotted with reddish- and 

 blackish-hrown, and mideiiving markings of grey. 

 Size about 1"3 by 'do in. 



Time. — May and June. 



Pieniarl-s. — Resident, but migratory, partially 

 and locally — that is to say, more birds visit our 

 coasts in winter than stay to breed, and those that 

 do breed with us resort to the coast-line in winter. 

 Notes : call, liwee-lxwee, trui, or 2^(^, P^, 1^6. Local 

 and other names : Dunlin Sandpiper, Purre, Judcock, 

 Stint, Oxbird, Plover's Page, Churr, Sea Snipe, Sea 

 Lark, Least Snipe. Sits pretty closety. 



EAGLE, GOLDEN. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 thirty-six inches. Beak moderately long, much 

 curved at the tip, and bluish horn colour ; bare 

 skin round the base yellow. Irides hazel. The 

 whole of the plumage is brown ; the head, back 

 of neck, and some of the wing-coverts reddish ; 

 wing-quills blackish-brown ; tail-quills of two shades 

 of brown, darkest at the tip. Chin and throat 

 dark brown ; under-parts of the body and thighs 

 bay. The legs are feathered down to the feet, 

 which characteristic distinguishes this bird from 

 the Sea Eagle. The feet are yellow and the claws 

 black. Mr. Booth was of opinion that the Golden 

 Eagle does not assume the full mature plumage 

 until it is five or six j^ears old. 



The female resembles the male in plumage, 

 but is somewhat laru-er in size. 



