BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
Famiry FALCONIDZA. 
GOLDEN EAGLE. 
AquILa cHRysaEtUs, Linn. 
PL. L., fig. 1. 
Geogr. distr.— Almost entire Palearctic Region, extending south- 
wards into temperate America: it is not uncommon in the highlands 
of Scotland (where it breeds), but is rare in England and Ireland, 
though it probably still breeds in the wilder parts of Mayo and Donegal. 
Food.— Birds and small mammals, such as hares, foxes, lambs, 
fawns, &c. i 
Nest.—Formed of branches, measuring from 5-6 feet in the greatest 
diameter ; covered with sprigs of fir, heather, fern-tops, grass, moss, 
&c.; the central concavity shallow. 
Position of nest—Near the top of an almost inaccessible rock, 
especially if well clothed with vegetation, or occasionally in a some- 
what large tree 
Number of eggs.—1-3; rarely 4, usually 2. 
Time of nidification.—III-IV ; April. 
I have only once had the pleasure of seeing this bird 
at large, and that was some years ago when staying at 
Chamounix with the late Mr. Hewitson; the bird was 
sailing round in a circle at an enormous height, and looked 
no larger than a blue-bottle fly; but every minute or so it 
uttered its strange screaming cry, which sounded distinct 
enough in that clear air. Hewitson says that Foula, one 
of the Shetland Islands, is the favourite resort of the 
Golden Eagle, and that nests formed in these islands are 
constructed of the ‘‘rope-like pieces of sea-weed, which, 
having their roots at the bottom of the sea, rise like mimic 
forests to its surface, and spread out their long riband 
B 
