A GERMAN VIEW OF THE FAUNA OF IRELAND. 389 
The neighbourhood is celebrated for its Eagles. One nest, 
protected by an overhanging rock, has hitherto been inaccessible; 
but half-a-dozen other nests are plundered pretty regularly, in 
spite of danger to life and limb.* This takes place between the 
15th June and the Ist July, when the little ones are large enough 
to feed themselves and to be sold to Englishmen, who will give 
five pounds or more for them. While I sat in my boat beneath 
the ‘‘Eagles’ Rock” the old ones were flying backwards and 
forwards over it; at such times the poor people who let themselves 
down to the nests from above (and always carry firearms) hang, 
in danger of death, not daring to touch the young birds until the 
parents shall have gone; which they finally do, departing at a 
regular time in search of food—a mountain hare, a kid, or a 
young lamb. Kohl relates the following:—‘‘ We had a keeper 
with us who assured us he had joined in this Eagle-catching for 
the last twenty years; during that time the same pair of Eagles 
had always built there; the difference between them was easily 
distinguished, and had a new pair taken possession of the nest 
it would have been discovered at once, as they were watched far 
and near all through the year. ‘This pair was thought to be the 
oldest in the neighbourhood, for the feathers of both birds were 
very faded. After their young ones had been taken from them 
they would fly round the nest for days, crying day and night, 
and apparently seeking their young. ‘The keeper said it some- 
times happened that one of the captive Eagles regained its 
liberty and returned to the mountains; but these tame Eagles 
were always attacked and killed by their wild relations. From 
one to two young birds are found in the nest; the affection of the 
Eagle for its young is the more striking when compared with the 
manner in which other birds will forsake their broods on the 
slightest disturbance.” 
The Goats of this region remain out, running wild on the 
mountains, all through the year; some are killed over precipices, 
or climb beyond possibility of return, while many become the 
prey of the Fox and the Eagle. 
* In regard to the number of Eagles’ nests at Killarney, we think the author 
must have been misinformed. The guides cannot be depended upon for information 
of this kind. Ten years ago, when visiting Killarney, we could not discover more 
than one pair of Eagles in the district, and, considering the persecution which 
attends all the birds of prey, it is hardly likely that the number of Eagles has 
increased much in such an oft-visited locality.—Ep. 
