vi PREFACE. 



Kingdom of Baron Cuvier, who mentions that it was so 

 tractable as to be employed in Falconry, but would only 

 attack small or weak animals, and was otherwise deficient 

 in courage. M. Vieillot includes this species in his Birds 

 of France, and mentions that it preys upon pigeons, rats, 

 and particularly upon ducks, from which latter circum- 

 stance it has been called anataria. It builds on high 

 trees, laying two whitish eggs, slightly streaked with red, 

 and it feeds on small quadrupeds and birds. 



This species has been killed in Belgium, and is included 

 by MM. Meyer, Brehm, and Naumann in their histories 

 of the Birds of Germany ; it is found also in Russia and 

 Siberia, but not, I believe, in Denmark, Sweden, or 

 Norway. 



South of the countries of Europe first mentioned, this 

 Eagle is found in Provence according to Polydore Roux 

 and M. Schembri ; and M. Savi includes it in his Birds 

 of Italy. M. Malherbe says this species inhabits the 

 centre of Sicily. One nest was discovered, containing two 

 Eaglets and a mass of bones and skeletons of rabbits and 

 reptiles ; but that which created the greatest surprise was, 

 to find underneath this large nest seven nests of the Tree 

 Sparrow, containing eggs and young birds ; and these 

 little Finches seemed to apprehend no danger in esta- 

 blishing themselves thus near the habitation of so formid- 

 able an enemy. 



This Eagle is not found in Malta, but is said to inhabit 

 North Africa, and is included by M. Savigny in his Birds 

 of Egypt under the name of Aquila melanaetos. 



