VOL. IX.] LETTERS. 217 



After the drive I asked the next " gun " to me if lie had noticed tlie 

 bird, and he rephed that it flew quite close to him and settled for a 

 second or so within easy shot, but that he never shot Owls on principle 

 and so did not fire. He was sure it was an Owl and a very large one 

 indeed. The next " gun," who has a good knowledge of all birds, was 

 preparing to fire at it, declaring it to be as big as a Heron, there 

 being no comparison between it and a Tawny Owl, with which bird 

 he was familiar. 



The other "gun" and the old keeper who occupied the two outer 

 butts following, both described the bird as an Owl and the size of a 

 Black-backed Gull, each saying, like the rest of us, that in the distance 

 it was like a Heron in size and slow flap of wings- It seems a pity 

 that the bird was not obtained, as I have no doubt it was an Eagle-Owl 

 (Bubo bubo). 



The weather has been most sev^ere, north-easterly gales and heavy 

 frost for the past month. When the bird alighted it was much smaller 

 in appearance, as the " guns " remarked who were near, but when on 

 the wing it seemed enormous. E. Richmond Paton. 



Hareshawmuir, by Kilmarnock, December 5tJi, 1915. 



THE GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE IN HEREFORDSHIRE. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — May I point out that this bird (see p. 186) was not shot on 

 my estate, but was found badly wounded by my gamekeeper just 

 within one of the boundary lines. A neighbour's keeper must have 

 been the guilty individual, for I am the last person to permit or 

 encourage the slaughter of rare birds, and my gamekeeper is very 

 well aware of the fact. He kept the eagle alive for two days, when 

 it succumbed to its injuries. The bird was an adult female. 



Hubert D. Astley. 



Brinsop Court, Hereford, December 2nd, 1915. 



