4168 The Zoologist — October, 1874. 



same pair made a pounce upon a tame duck which was feeding in a barn- 

 yard, but, being alarmed by a man who came out to the rescue, merely 

 succeeded in seizing one foot, by which, however, the miserable captive was 

 carried to the distance of about a mile, ' roaring for mercy,' as my informant 

 asserted. The eagle then descended to a hillock, and there taking a firmer 

 hold rose once more and continued on its way to the eyrie." — P. 3. 



The following refers to the breeding habits of the whitetailed 

 eagle : — 



" There seems to be no doubt that the whitetailed eagle pairs for life, 

 though whence and by what means a new partner is obtained when one has 

 been destroyed is a mystery. Not many years ago, while a nest was in 

 progress, the female bird was shot, and immediately afterwards the male 

 disappeared, returning, however, in the course of a week, with a new mate. 

 The latter was also mercilessly shot, but after an absence of about ten days 

 the male once more returned, accompanied by another female, after which 

 they were allowed to complete their nest and rear their young brood in peace. 

 Although it is not until the beginning of May that the young are hatched, 

 the birds are seen in the immediate neighbourhood of the nest as early as 

 the middle of March, and shortly afterwards they begin such repaire as the 

 wear and tear by the last brood, and the storms of the previous winter may 

 have rendered necessary. Two eggs are usually laid, sometimes three ; but 

 I never heard of more than two being hatched. The only nest I ever saw 

 containing eggs was in a high cliif in the island of Fetlar, rather nearer to 

 the top of the cliff than to the bottom, and so placed beneath overhanging 

 rocks that it could only be reached by means of a rope. It consisted of a 

 mass of dead plants and sea-weed stalks, thickly covered about the middle 

 with wool and hair. The eggs (on the 1 4th April) were quite fresh and of 

 the usual roundish form, measuring three inches in length by two inches 

 and three-eighths in breadth. In colour they were soiled white, with a few 

 faint brownish stains— in all probability received from some damp or decaying 

 substance within the nest. The shells are always hard and somewhat brittle, 

 and the yolks pale in colour. During the last few years, a large number of 

 rouudish white eggs have been sold as those of the erne, but their small 

 size, dull and chalky appearance, and exceedingly low price, ought to be 

 sufficient to put intending purchasers on their guard. I think the young 

 remain in their nest about six weeks. The male is occasionally seen upon 

 the eggs, but by far the larger part of the task of incubation is performed 

 by the female. At first the birds are quite shy, seldom venturing within 

 gunshot, but they become much bolder after hatching has taken place, 

 though they never, so far as I can ascertain, venture to attack an intruder. 

 I have but once seen the young in the nest ; they were a little more than a 

 week old, and were covered with a dingy white down." — P. G. 



