323 

 EAGLES IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND. 



Rev. H. a. MACPHERSON, M.A., M.B.O.U., Etc., 

 A iitlior of the ' / 'isitntion of Pallas s Sand-Grouse to Scoilaiui,' etc. 



Having searched during several years, with very Hmited success, for 

 old records of Eagles in the English Lake district, I had lately an 

 opportunity of making a hurried examination of the pages of the 

 ' Gentleman's Magazine. Herein I found several references, none of 

 them relating to my own faunal area, and all describing the capture 

 of birds at a distance from their breeding-grounds. The earliest 

 relates to an Eagle captured in Kent in August 1734. The curious 

 thing about this occurrence is that the Lord of the Manor claimed 

 the bird ; ' but 'twas afterwards demanded by the King's Falconers 

 as a Royal Bird, and carried to Court.' The expanse of wings of 

 this specimen was stated at 3 yds. 8 ins., an obvious exaggeration. 



The next capture that I shall cite here belongs to Northumberland. 

 ' 1 75 1. Newcastle, July 27. Last week, as Sir Henry Gray, Bart., 

 was fowling near Cheviott Hill, he shot a very large eagle, which 

 had seized his dog in his talons, and was endeavouring to carry him 

 off. The neighbourhood had been much damaged by this eagle, 

 having lost lambs to the value of ^^ 6 ' (Gentleman's Magazine, 

 xxi, p. 379). 



Fourteen years later, we find another reference, tu Durham. 

 ' 1765. October, Thursday, 17. A Golden Eagle of an enormous 

 size was shot at RyhoJ>e, near Sunderland. It measured from the 

 extremities of its wings, 7 feet 6 inches; from the bill to the tail, 

 3 feet ; its largest claws, six inches and a half ; and its heart nearly 

 as large as that of a sheep' (Gentleman's Magazine, 1765, p. 490). 



The last passage to be quoted for the North of England is less 

 detailed. It refers to the year 1784, and states, under November., 

 that ' In the course of the present month an eagle was shot in 

 Lincolnshire, which measured from the tip of the wings, when 

 extended, 7 feet 7 inches. It was a noble bird, and being hurt in the 

 wing only, it was with difficulty subdued' (Gentleman's ^Magazine, 

 1784, p. 872). 



The White-tailed Eagle certainly bred in the Lake district until 

 the last years of the eighteenth century, and probably the Golden 

 Eagle held out nearly as long. I lately interviewed an aged native 

 of Keswick, a man of ninety summers. This old gentleman assured 

 me that when he was a big lad, a pair of Eagles still nested on one 

 of the mountains of the district. 



Sept. Tth, 1890. 

 Nov. i8ooi 



