THE BIRDS OF PREY. 213 



The White-tailed Eagle, distinguished by the absence 

 of feathers from the lower half of the leg, and by the 

 "White- k roa d scales on the toes, is commonly (im- 

 tailed mature visitors to the South more particu- 

 Eagle. larly ^ reported as the Golden Eagle. It is 

 also known as the " erne," and breeds nowadays only on 

 the more northerly coasts of Scotland, among the Shet- 

 lands, and here and there on the wild west coast of Ire- 

 land. The bird feeds on fish and any carrion. Its nest, 

 sometimes found inland, is like that of the last, as are also 

 the eggs, though rather smaller, and without spots. 



Goshawk. A rare straggler nowadays that has not bred 

 in these islands since the beginning of the century. It 

 may be recognised by the short wings and the white line 

 over the eye. 



American Goshawk. A closely allied species, said to 

 have occurred once in Scotland and twice in Ireland, but 

 whether it arrived unaided as a genuine visitor seems 

 uncertain. 



The small Sparrow - Hawk is fairly common in all 

 wooded districts, and recognised by its short wings, the 

 Sparrow- dark reddish bars on the breast, and the great 

 Hawk. length of the legs. Though the smaller wild 

 birds and mammals form its principal food, there is no 

 doubt but the sparrow-hawk can, especially when there 

 are young to feed, be a great trouble in the farmyard, and 

 also among partridges. It feeds on the ground, and one 

 may often come upon small heaps of blood-stained feathers 

 in the clearings of woods, showing plainly where the 

 bird has had a recent meal. The female is much larger 

 than the male, and Mr J. Steele-Elliott 1 points out that 

 this is the origin of the common error of regarding them 

 as birds of different species. As a rule, the sparrow-hawk 

 builds a large nest of sticks and twigs, which is placed 

 near the top of high trees ; but it is also known to adapt 

 f'- x The Vertebrate Fauna of Bedfordshire, p. 11. 



