22 BRITISH BIRDS. 



eyes large, deep sunk, and covered by a projecting 

 brow ; the iris hazel, and sparkles with uncommon 

 lustre. The general colour is deep brown, mixed 

 with tawny on the head and neck : quills chocolate, 

 with white shafts ; tail black, spotted with ash ; 

 legs yellow, feathered down to the toes, which are 

 very scaly ; the claws are remarkably large ; the 

 middle one is two inches in length. 



This noble bird is found in various parts of 

 Europe ; but abounds most in the warmer regions, 

 seldom being met with farther north than the fifty- 

 fifth degree of latitude. It is known to breed in 

 the mountainous parts of Ireland ; lays three, and 

 sometimes four eggs, though it seldom happens 

 that more than two are prolific. Pennant says 

 there are instances, though rare, of their having 

 bred in Snowdon Hills. Wallis, in his Natural 

 History of Northumberland, says, " it formerly had 

 its aerie on the highest and steepest part of Che- 

 viot. In the beginning of January, 1735, a very 

 large one was shot near Warkworth, which 

 measured from point to point of its wings, eleven 

 feet and a quarter." 



