GOLDEN EAGLE. 17 



but both, providentially, were rescued. Doubtless there have 

 been often such cases, some not recorded, having occurred in 

 remote districts, and others possibly not even known of. 



The numbers of animals and birds destroyed by Eagles must 

 be very great: the remains of three hundred ducks and forty 

 hares were found in the eyrie of one in Germany; and it is 

 on record, that a peasant in the county of Kerry, and another 

 in the county of Antrim, supported their families for a con- 

 siderable time, by means of the animals brought by parent 

 Eagles to their nests. 



The Golden Eagle never feeds on carrion, unless forced by 

 hunger, when unable to meet with prey to kill for itself. 



The age attained by the Eagle is unquestionably very great: 

 one that died at Vienna, is reported to have lived, even in 

 confinement, one hundred and four years. It rarely drinks, 

 but is fond of washing itself. It is said to keep fat to the 

 last, as if the faculties of its natural instinct did not deteriorate 

 as its age increased, but were sufficient, with the benefit of 

 its experience, to supply the place of its pristine strength. 

 One which I have lately seen the body of, previous to the skin 

 being stuffed by Mr. Graham, of York, was remarkable for the 

 quantity of fat upon it. It appeared to be a very old bird, 

 and the talons were of an extraordinary length. It had just 

 been sent from Assynt, in Sutheriandshire, by "W. M. E. S. 

 Milner, Esq., It. P. The Golden Eagle is easily kept in con- 

 finement, and in some cases becomes to a certain extent tamed, 

 from being constantly familiarized with the sight of its keeper. 

 It is, nevertheless, on the whole extremely intractable; one 

 however is related to have been tamed at Fortwilliam, near 

 Belfast, by Richard Langtry, Esq., which would come at its 

 master's call, and another to have been trained by Captain 

 Green, of Buckden, in Huntingdonshire, to take hares arid 

 rabbits. Another, as I presume it to have been, is mentioned 

 by the late Bishop Stanley, in his 'Eamiliar History of British 

 Birds,' as having been so thoroughly tamed as to have been 

 left at perfect liberty, neither chained or pinioned: of this 

 freedom it would often avail itself, and after having been 

 absent for two or three weeks would again return. It never 

 attacked children, but on one occasion, it is supposed from its 

 master having neglected to bring it its usual supply of food, 

 it assailed him with some violence. Young pigs it would 

 occasionally make a meal of. After having been safely kept 

 for ten or twelve years, it was unfortunately, in the end killed 



VOL. I. C 



