136 ACCIPITRES. 



possibly be able to fast for a longer period; and the one 

 mentioned was killed, and did not die of hunger. But I 

 must leave her to her haunts, apologizing to the reader that 

 I am obliged to confine my notice to a few desultory pages, 

 which is as much out of nature as cooping up the living bird 

 in a cage. In nature, the eagle requires a mountain, and if 

 ever it be my good fortune to afford her a volume of descrip- 

 tion, she shall spread her wings.* 



* The golden eagle is far from being uncommon in the wild mountain 

 districts of Ireland ; one or two pairs breed annually on the crags of the 

 island of Achill, off the coast of Mayo. Everywhere their eyrie is placed 

 In situations either utterly inaccessible, or not to be attained to without 

 great difficulty and danger. They are very destructive among sheep, 

 lambs, young pigs, hares, rabbits, ducks, fowls and grous. They are often 

 taken in traps, baited with living prey. 



It is a mistake to suppose that the golden eagle is indocile. Mr. Selby 

 had two in his possession which, indeed, never lost their fierceness ; on the 

 contrary, " Richard Langtry, Esq., of Fortwilliam, near Belfast," writes 

 Mr. Thompson in 1838, " has at present a bird of this species which is 

 extremely docile and tractable ; it was taken last summer from a nest in 

 Inverness-shire, and came into his possession about the end of September. 

 The bird at once became attached to its owner, who, after having it about 

 a month, ventured to give it its liberty, a privilege which was not, on the 

 eagle's part, abused, as it came to the lure whenever called. It not only 

 permits itself to be handled in any way, but seems to derive pleasure from 

 the application of the hand to its legs and plumage. This eagle was 

 hooded after the manner of the hunting hawks for some time, but the 

 practice was abandoned ; and although it may yet be requisite if the bird 

 be trained for the chase, hooding is otherwise unnecessary, as it remains 

 quiet and contented for any length of time, and no matter how far car- 

 ried. . . . When this eagle is at large, my friend has only to hold 

 out his arm towards it, which, as soon as perceived, even from a distance, 

 it flies to, and perches on/' 



It must be remembered that this eagle was captured while a nestling 

 it is doubtful whether a captured adult would ever be reclaimed. 



Mr. Thompson says : " The golden eagle is generally represented as 

 exceeding the sea-eagle in magnitude ; but such specimens of the latter 

 as I have examined were invariably superior in size to the former ; and I 

 speak from comparison of adult individuals of the same sex." We agree 

 with Mr. Thompson, and may add that our opportunities of comparison 

 have been abundant. But the golden eagle is more compactly built. 



M. 



