200 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



tantius, refining upon this notion, thinks the youth 

 was either captured by a legion, whose insignia 

 was an eagle, or carried off in a ship having an 

 eagle carved on the prow*. Cicero justly condemns 

 the morality of the legend, which, however, he gives 

 very inaccurately f from memory. 



Gesner, on the authority of Fabricius ab Aqua- 

 pendente, says, that some peasants between Meissen 

 and Brisa, in Germany, losing every day some of 

 their cattle, which they sought for in the forests in 

 vain, observed by chance a very large nest, in which 

 were found several skins of calves and sheep. This 

 nest, which is described as being as large as the 

 body of a cart, rested on three oaks. It is very 

 doubtful, however, whether any species of eagle, with 

 all its power of talon and of wing, could carry off an 

 animal so large as a calf, which must be more weighty 

 than itself. Hares, rabbits, and lambs, may indeed 

 be easily managed; and when larger animals are 

 encountered they may be carried off piecemeal, as is 

 probably done with deer, which, Pennant says, are 

 frequently in Scotland attacked by the erne (Halteetus 

 albicilla, SAVIGNY). It seizes the deer between 

 the horns, and incessantly beating it about the eyes 

 with its wings, soon makes prey of the harassed 

 animal J. 



Owls, it would appear, are equally provident of 

 prey for their young. Bingley tells us that, on 

 examining a nest of the hawk-owl (Otus brachyotus, 

 FLEMING), " that had in it two young ones, several 

 pieces of rabbits, leverets, and other small animals 

 were found. The hen and one of the young ones 

 were taken away ; the other was left to entice the 

 cock, which was absent when the nest was dis- 

 covered. On the following morning there were 



* De Falsa Religione, i. f Tusc. Qusest. i. 



$ Brit, Zool. vol. i. No. 43. 



