Birds of Prey. 



their services. In India, and in China and Japan, 

 falconry is still practised, and men are often seen 

 walking about with beautiful tame Hawks on their 

 wrists. 



Since the sport of hawking has died out i-n England 

 but few of the rapacious birds have been kept as pets ; 

 but now and then one hears of caged Eagles and Hawks, 

 and Owls are frequently kept in barns, and occasion- 

 ally in cottages and stable-yards, for the sake of their 

 services as mousers. A few words must, therefore, be 

 devoted to each of these birds. 



The GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos) was for- 

 merly not unfrequently an inhabitant of the British 

 Isles; but the increase of the population and the culti- 

 vation of the land have driven it to the Highlands, to 

 wild parts of Ireland, and to some parts of Wales. 

 The female, which, in the Falcon tribe, is larger than 

 the male, often measures three feet and a half in length, 

 and upwards of eight feet across when the wings are 

 extended. Its prey consists of large quadrupeds and 

 birds, fawns, lambs, grouse, etc. Young pigs and fish 

 are also found in its larder, which is generally upon 

 one ledge of rock, while its nest, rudely constructed of 

 sticks, twigs, and heath, lies on another ledge. The 

 Eagle and his mate assist each other in hunting their 

 game, and, carrying their prey to the nest, tear it to 

 pieces for their young. They are most audacious birds 

 when in pursuit of game, and will even seize a hare 



