THE OS PREY. 305 



The distinctive marks by which to tell these two 

 Eagles apart at any age is by the leg and foot. 

 The legs of the Golden species are feathered down 

 to the toes, the Sea Eagle showing part of the 

 shank bare. The surface of the toes in the former 

 bird are covered by very small scales, in the latter 

 by large ones. 



Mr. Pike, of Achill, had a tamed Golden Eagle 

 in his possession for twenty-six years. It was 

 taken (in 1854) as a young bird from the nest. 

 After being twenty years a captive, it laid two eggs. 

 These were removed and goose's eggs substituted, 

 which the Eagle hatched, tenderly guarding the 

 young, feeding them on meat torn from the crows, 

 rabbits, and rats placed in her cage. 



One morning Mr. Pike found that a wild Eagle 

 of the same species had burst through the bars to 

 the prisoner, and it was set free with much diffi- 

 culty. The bird did not fly away, but rested on a 

 small mound near for some time. On another 

 occasion a wild Eagle was found at daybreak in the 

 same cage by the keeper. 



In warm bright weather Eagles are inactive, and 

 do not show as when the day is wild and boisterous, 

 when they wheel continually through the sky, and 

 appear to glory in braving the tempest. 



THE OSPREY (Pandion halicztus), although an 

 uncommon bird, is yet to be met with now and 

 then on various parts of the Irish coast. I have 

 several times been interested in observing one of 

 these birds fishing. They do not stoop and snatch 

 up a fish, scarce wetting themselves, as I have read 

 is their habit. I have seen them fall like stones 



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