118 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXVII. 



Judging by this criterion, the eagle may be set 

 down as one of the longest lived of our British 

 birds ; as he certainly does not arrive at the full 

 maturity of his plumage for some years. On the 

 other hand, the swan puts on her white feathers at 

 her first moulting, yet is said to live to a very great 

 age ; and there are well-authenticated instances 

 that this is the fact. Geese, too, live to a most 

 patriarchal age. The period of life of tame falcons 

 does not exceed eight to ten years — at least so I am 

 assured by some of my acquaintances who have 

 kept these birds. A wild hawk, barring accidents 

 from shot or trap, has, probably, a better chance of 

 longevity than a domesticated bird, however care- 

 fully the latter may be tended, as it is almost 

 impossible to hit upon the exact quantity, quality, 

 and variety of food which best conduces to their 

 health, or to give tame birds as large a share of 

 exercise and bodily exertion as in their wild state 

 they would be constrained to take in pursuit of 

 their daily prey. Common fowls live to the age 

 of ten or twelve years, but become useless and 

 rheumatic after six or eight. Such, also, is the 

 case with pigeons. I knew of a pair who lived for 

 fifteen years, but they were barren for some years 

 before their death. 



The length of life of small birds is probably less : 



