81 



PART v.— RARE AND OCCASIONAL VISITORS. 



Haliaetos Albicilla. 



White-tailed Eagle. 



Though Eagles are essentially birds of mountainous 

 districts, it is rather remarkable that there is only one 

 instance on record of their appearance in this neighbour- 

 hood, as from one cause or another hardly a year passes 

 without one or more Eagles, either of the golden or of the 

 white-tailed species, being recorded from the south of 

 England. 



Only one, however, has appeared here of late years. This 

 specimen was observed high up in the air over Savernake 

 Forest by a keeper, who immediately shot at it, and 

 succeeded in bringing it down, when it proved to be a fine 

 specimen of the white-tailed Eagle. 



It was presented by its fortunate captor to the Marquis 

 of Ailesbury, in whose possession it now is. This was in the 

 year 1859. 



A single specimen of the Golden Eagle has been shot at 

 Littleton, which is however just beyond the. limits of our 

 district. 



Falco Feregrinus. 



Perer/rine. 



Contrary to what I had at first intended, I have decided 

 to place this in the present section, for though in the Orni- 



