304 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



of Ireland, except in Donegal, where, on two estates 

 which he mentions, the Golden Eagle may still be 

 seen. 



In the first week of December, 1 88 1, a keeper, near 

 Listowel, saw a Golden Eagle stoop at a Woodcock 

 as the latter darted into a thick covert. The Eagle 

 followed and was captured, unhurt, entangled in the 

 underwood and unable to rise or use its wings. 

 This bird was kept alive for some time, but showed 

 great fierceness, and, refusing all food, at length died 

 of starvation. 



A friend of mine once shot a Cock in co. Kerry 

 that fell across a river. After some hesitation, he 

 determined to ford the stream to secure the bird. 

 When half-way across, a Buzzard swooped down 

 and, without minding his shouts, began to tear it to 

 pieces. The shooter was now some twenty paces 

 distant from the scene. Suddenly, with the rush of 

 a storm, a dark ball descended. The Buzzard left 

 in haste, for the king of his race had appeared, and, 

 in an instant, bore away the Cock in his clutch. 

 The wetting, though on a bitter winter's day, was 

 forgotten in the excitement of the grand sight wit- 

 nessed. 



The tail of the Erne, or White-tailed Eagle, is 

 rarely perfect, but instead, bruised and discoloured, 

 and often much worn. The Golden Eagle, on the 

 contrary, is seldom found to have its tail-feathers 

 damaged or imperfect. This seems to show that 

 the former often rests and feeds on level, soft 

 ground, such as borders the sea ; the latter pre- 

 ferring rocks and ledges on which it can perch 

 dryshod, and without injuring tail or wings. 



