38 British Birds^ 



I say generally ; — not invariably. The Eagles in a 

 state of nature do not disdain to gorge themselves on 

 the flesh of a dead sheep, for instance, although they 

 have had no hand — or rather beak and claw — in the 

 death. Still the rule is, and admitting not many 

 exceptions when the whole family is considered, that 

 the Falconidse hunt for, or surprise, and slay their 

 prey for themselves. And very intent on this busi- 

 ness are they oftentimes, when engaged in discussing 

 the meal which their craft, or still vigilance, or fierce 

 impetuous speed and dash has secured for them. 

 Often, too, not a little sleepy and heavy are they after 

 having been lucky enough to secure a large prey, and 

 greedy enough to stuff themselves full with it. 



The bird which stands at the head of the family 

 and alike deserves and does credit to his rank is the 



GOLDEN EAGLE— (^^^^27^ chrysaetos). 



It seems almost too tame to talk of an " Eagle's 

 nest," and we seem almost to feel as if different words 

 might well be applied to the nursery-structure of the 

 King of Birds, and that of the tiny Tom- tit or the 

 Wren. So, independently of the old meaning of the 

 word eyry -^ which makes it so suitable as applied to 

 the egg-home of the grand kingly birds, called Eagles, 



1 Probably from Saxon eglie (g sounded like y) *'an egg." The 

 modern English form of the word would be eggery therefore ; 

 the old English form eyry or eyrie. Chaucer (about 1400) wrote ey for 

 " egg." Professor Skeat, however, does not approve of the derivation 

 from the Saxon, which would make the word equivalent to eggery. 

 He would refer it rather to the Icelandic arahreidr, meaning "an 

 ej^rie, an eagle's nest " ; Icel. ari, **an eagle" ; hreidr, "a wreath," 

 .'i a bird's uest," 



