VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 27 



The Shetland Isles abound with several kinds 

 of birds, as curlews, snipes, grouse, green plovers, 

 redshanks, herons, and other waders. The short- 

 eared owl is also frequently seen here, and makes 

 its nest on the ground. This species never flies, 

 like other owls, in search of prey, but sits quiet 

 on an eminence, watching like a cat the appear- 

 ance of mice or other vermin. No partridges 

 are found in these Isles, and many of the other 

 birds migrate to a warmer clime on the approach of 

 winter. 



The lofty cliffs impending over the ocean, are 

 the haunts of eagles, falcons, ravens, hawks, hood- 

 ed crows, &c. The Erne-eagles, which are very 

 ravenous, and destructive among the lambs, possess 

 the most exalted precipices, and, like the falcons, 

 will not admit of any society. This, Pliny, in his 

 Hist. Nat. lib. 10. c. 3. beautifully expresses :— 

 " Unum par Aquilarum magno ad populandum 

 tractu, ut satietur, indiget ; determinant ergo 

 spatia nee in proximo pr&dantur? 



A premium of three shillings and fourpence is ob- 

 tained for killing one of these eagles ; and smaller 

 premiums are given for killing less destructive 

 birds. 



Here are also seen grey linnets, larks, sparrows, 

 red-breasts, wrens, landrails, and stone chatters. 



