154 ACCIPITRES. 



93, immediately under the peregrine falcon, and on the same 

 scale with that, namely, one-sixth of the lineal dimensions, or 

 one thirty-sixth of the surface. 



It is a very powerful bird, and, from its preying on the 

 young of deer and sheep, and upon grous and other large 

 birds, it merits the epithet of eagle. It is doubtful if it ever 

 bred, even in the remotest parts of the British islands, though 

 it sometimes, but very rarely, pays a visit to the Orkneys, and 

 also to the north coast of Scotland. On the continent it is 

 distributed over a wider range of latitude, in a general or 

 partial state of residence : and it also migrates, especially in 

 the central and eastern parts. As, from the vast mass of 

 light feathers with which it is invested, it must make more 

 lee-way than most other migratory birds, the east winds some- 

 times bring it to the shores of England, especially those to 

 the north of Flamborough Head, and the south of the Thames, 

 which are the most remarkable for the occasional appearance 

 of continental migratory birds. It builds, in rocks or in lofty 

 trees, a nest often three feet in diameter, but rarely contain- 

 ing more than two eggs. It prefers rocks, however, both for 

 nestling and for perching ; and, sallying forth from these in 

 the grey dawn, or the twilight, or on dark days, in the 

 northern regions all the night long, it commits terrible havoc, 

 especially among the grous, and more particularly when it has 

 young, which, as is the case with all the owls, remain long 

 in the nest, and require a vast quantity of food. Its flying 

 note is peculiarly deep and doleful, and the hissing sound 

 which it utters when alarmed or irritated is just as harsh and 

 grating. The sound which many nocturnal birds of prey 

 make when they fly, may possibly answer the same purpose 

 as the roaring of the lion and other carnivorous beasts, namely 

 that of alarming the prey, and making it thereby reveal its 

 hiding-place to the keen ear of the preyer. 



When it beats for prey, it flies very low, and often, by its 



