REPORTS TO BE DISTRUSTED. 39 



than a young bird of the common species. Tak- 

 ing, therefore, into consideration the imperfect 

 state of the science in Markwick's time, and the 

 vague and incorrect ideas on the subject of no- 

 menclature generally, which prevailed, indeed, to 

 a much later period; bearing in mind also that 

 the golden eagle the eagle to which he alludes 

 has apparently never since been met with in the 

 wild state in Sussex, while the white-tailed 

 which he does not even mention has occurred in 

 several instances ; and remembering that Bexhill, 

 where his eagle was said to have been killed, is a 

 village on the coast between Pevensey Bay and 

 Hastings, and therefore a more probable locality 

 for the sea eagle ; I think we may fairly conclude 

 that Markwick's bird was in reality the Hali&ettis 

 albicilla. 



It is not without a considerable sense of disap- 

 pointment that I feel myself compelled conscien- 

 tiously to relinquish all claim to the golden eagle 

 as a Sussex bird; but although I readily plead 

 guilty to a strong desire to open the door to as 

 many of our feathered visitors as can, from my 

 own personal knowledge, or on unquestionable 

 authority, be admitted to a place in our local 

 fauna, yet I am well aware of the extreme caution 

 with which all oral information respecting birds 

 or their habits should be received : the numerous 



