26 BRITISH BIRDS. 



of eight. The beak, cere, and eyes are of a pale 

 yellow : the space between the beak and the eye is 

 bluish, thinly covered with hair : the sides of the 

 head and neck a pale ash, mixed with reddish 

 brown : general colour of the plumage brown, 

 darkest on the upper part of the head, neck, and 

 back ; quill feathers very dark ; breast irregularly 

 marked with white spots ; tail white ; the legs, 

 which are of a bright yellow, are feathered a little 

 below the knees ; claws black. 



This bird inhabits all the northern parts of 

 Europe, and is found in .Scotland and other parts 

 of Great Britain. It is said to lay only two eggs 

 during the whole year, and frequently produces 

 only one bird ; it is however widely dispersed, and 

 was met with at Botany Island by Captain Cook. 

 It lives chiefly on fish : its usual haunts are by the 

 sea-shore ; it also frequents the borders of large 

 lakes and rivers ; and is said to see so distinctly in 

 the ; dark, as to be able to pursue and catch .its prey 

 during the night. The story of the Eagle brought 

 to the ground after a severe conflict with a cat, 

 which it had seized and taken up in the air with its 

 talons, is very remarkable. Mr. Barlow, who was 

 an -eye-witness of the fact, made a drawing of it, 

 which he afterwards engraved. 



