EAaGLts. RAPACES. FALCO. 7 
height at which it soars, is the favourite station from whence 
to seek for prey, as it is from such altitudes that it generally 
stoops, and carries off its victim. It seldom strays far from 
its native haunts; and the instances are rare of its having 
been seen in England, or even in the Lowlands of Scotland. 
Bewick mentions a very large one, as killed near Wark- 
worth in Northumberland, which measured eleven feet in ex- 
tent of wing. 
Having had two living birds of this species in my posses- 
sion for some years, I have been enabled to give close atten- 
tion to their peculiar habits. In disposition, they appear Habits. 
untameable, their fierceness being in no respect diminished 
since I first received them. They do not exhibit any partiality 
even for the person who constantly attends and feeds them, but 
are as ready to attack him as a stranger. ‘They shew a de- 
cided preference to living prey, and will not eat offal or car- 
rion, except when pressed by hunger. Hares, rabbits and 
cats, are favourite food. Living prey thrown to them is in- 
stantly pounced by a stroke behind the head, and another 
about the region of the heart; the bill appearing never to be 
used, but for the purpose of tearing up their prey when 
dead. - 
Part of the fur is generally swallowed, and afterwards dis- 
gorged, with the bones, &c. in large pellets or castings, by 
the mouth; but they display some adroitness in skinning an 
animal, and birds are usually plucked with great dexterity. 
They rarely drink, but durmg the heat of summer are 
very partial to washing themselves. 
The Female becomes noisy at the approach of spring, and 
is observed to be particularly clamorous previous to wet or 
stormy weather. 
Pirate 1. A female bird. Bill bluish at the base, the tip General 
black. Cere lemon-yellow. Inides orange-brown. Pri- ae 
mary quills black ; the secondary ones clouded with hair- Adult bird. 
brown, broccoli-brown, and umber-brown. Crown of the 
