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CHAPTER XVI. 



Birds of Prey The Golden and White-tailed Eagles The Osprey, 

 Kite, Buzzard, and Peregrine Falcon The Greenland and 

 Iceland Falcon The Smaller Hawks and Owls. 



THE magnificent cliffs on many parts of the Irish 

 coast, more especially in the north and west, afford 

 secure breeding places for numerous birds of prey, 

 conspicuous amongst which, from their size, are the 

 Eagles. 



THE SEA EAGLE, or ERNE, is as often seen in 

 Ireland as the Golden Eagle, but is usually taken 

 for the latter bird by all but those who are well 

 acquainted with both species. The Sea Eagle is 

 more vulture-like in shape and aspect than is 

 the Golden ; the latter looks a hawk, every inch 

 of him, active and strong. The foot of the Sea 

 Eagle is better adapted for clutching and bearing 

 off its prey, to feed at leisure, than is the case with 

 the Golden Eagle, which cannot grasp so firmly, 

 though well enough to carry a meal to its young. 

 The foot of the Golden Eagle seems rather de- 

 signed to seize small animals on the ground, and 

 there hold them, to eat on the spot. I once saw 

 one caught, after a royal feast on a lamb, so gorged 

 that it could not fly. The Golden Eagle drops 

 instantly on its prey, which it will grasp so tightly 

 that at the moment of seizure the talons pene- 



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