497 



thing, wanting in courage like some of the Buzzards. It is a rather shy bird, and is well able 

 to take care of itself by not permitting any one to approach within gunshot-range. It preys on 

 waterfowl of various kinds, frogs, &c, and hence is very frequently found near water ; but it also 

 kills mice, squirrels, moles, young hares, and game birds of various kinds — chiefly, however, the 

 smaller species ; and, like its ally (Aquila clanga), it is said not to disdain carrion. It nests in 

 the forests of North Germany, either building its own nest or else taking possession of the 

 deserted nest of some other bird of prey, and usually deposits two eggs. Dr. Kriiper, who has 

 taken many nests of this Eagle, gives some interesting details respecting its nidification in 

 Pomerania, which I translate (Naumannia, 1852, pt. i. p. 68) as follows: — "This Eagle is the 

 commonest species in Pomerania, but frequents only localities where there is forest and plenty 

 of ponds containing frogs ; and as it feeds chiefly on frogs it places its nest somewhere near a 

 pond. I have always found its nest on the skirts of the forest, in an oak, a beech, or a conifer ; 

 and it is sometimes placed high up, at others low down ; but the lowest was one I found in the 

 Mdnkebuder forest in 1849, which was not more than 25 feet from the ground. The Spotted 

 Eagle frequently makes use of the nest of some other bird of prey ; and I found one on the 8th 

 May, 1848, in possession of a nest from which three eggs of a Goshawk were taken on the 5th 

 April. This year I found a Spotted Eagle nesting in a Buzzard's nest. The nest is larger or 

 smaller according to its position, is usually two to three feet broad and high, and is constructed 

 of dry branches intermixed with grass and leaves; the eggs are placed in a tolerably shallow cup 

 on a bed of fresh spines of the pine tree, this lining being very characteristic of the nest of the 

 Spotted Eagle. The nest is never built in the crown of a tree, but usually a little above the 

 centre ; and this season I found a fresh-built nest on a strong bough about ten feet from the main 

 stem of the tree. When the nest is approached the bird frequently slips quietly off and does not 

 show itself; but if the eggs are much incubated it does not readily leave its nest, but has to be 

 driven off by knocking the tree or pelting the nest ; and this is not always sufficient to send it off. 

 Last year my brother found a nest, and knocked at the tree, but the bird did not leave it. On 

 looking at the nest from a distance he could see the Eagle on it, and knocked again without success, 

 and the bird did not leave until the tree was climbed. I have seldom heard the cry of this Eagle 

 at the nest. On the 15th May last I heard in the Kothenklempnower forest the querulous call 

 of the Spotted Eagle, and went thither with my guide. We had scarcely reached the pond when 

 my companion saw the nest and threw a stick at it, when the Eagle at once flew off, and did not 

 appear again. On the following day, when at some distance from the nest, I heard the con- 

 tinuous call of the Eagles ; and at last my companion caught sight of both of them high up in 

 the air; and he told me that the female, when sitting, calls to give notice to the male that she 

 wants food. We were on another occasion guided to a nest by the call of the bird. The 

 number of eggs is usually two, more seldom one. I found in Jadekemiihl a single egg in an 

 Eagle's nest in 1849, and again in 1850 also only one egg; but this year I had not time to 

 examine this nest. I have never known this Eagle to deposit three eggs; and out of about 

 thirty nests which I either examined myself or sent some one up the tree, four contained only 

 one egg, and all the rest two. My companion above referred to told me a curious circumstance. 

 He found in the Falkenwalder forest a Spotted Eagle's nest, from which the old bird flew as he 

 approached it ; and he saw at a distance an egg on the edge of the nest. He climbed up ; and 



2i2 



