Birds. 5119 



Willi these few, and, I may add, very simple, remarks, I will dow 

 begin my list. 



The Golden Eagle (Aquila clwysaetos). Many are the stories 

 told amongst us of large birds of prey, said to be eagles, having been 

 procured, and of others having been seen ; but, from the want of pro- 

 per information on the subject, and persons properly qualified to dis- 

 tinguish the species, it is impossible to say with certainty what these 

 may have been. It is also currently reported that an eagle, but of 

 which species I have never as yet been able to make out, has been 

 known to breed in our higher districts. This is, however, very doubt- 

 ful; at least, I have several times visited the places where it was said 

 to breed, particularly the rocky heights of Ben-Vennis, the most likely 

 locality within the county, and have never as yet found it to do so ; 

 nor do I think the place at all suitable for the eyrie of the eagle. Be 

 this, however, as it may, several specimens of the golden eagle have 

 been both trapped and shot within the district. One, a splendid 

 bird, was killed near Tomintaul, about forty years ago ; and another 

 in Glen Fiddoch, about ten years later. One was seen, three years 

 since, hovering above the sea-braes betwixt Banff and Portsay ; and, 

 having pounced upon and secured what appeared to be a rabbit or a 

 small-sized hare, was again observed to rise, with his screaming prey 

 firmly held by his powerful talons ; and, winging his aerial way sea- 

 wards, was soon for out of harm's way, escaping unscathed, although 

 several gunners were in hot pursuit. 



The Erne or Sea Eagle {Aquila albicilla) has also been at least 

 twice procured. 



The Osprey, Fish Hawk or Fishing Eagle (Aquila haliaetus). 

 This species has likewise been obtained as well as seen. A very fine 

 male specimen was shot, about twenty-one years since, amongst the 

 high cliffs of Gamrie-head. Another was seen by a surgeon of this 

 town, some years afterwards, amongst the rocks at a place called 

 Melrose, a few miles from where the other was obtained. 



The Peregrine Falcon, Blue or Hunting Hawk (Falco peregrinus). 

 Although there are some doubts as regards the former or any of their 

 congeners having bred with us, there are none with respect to the pre- 

 sent species. The peregrine is one of our native hawks, breeding 

 annually, although very sparingly and generally in inaccessible places, 

 in some of our highest headlands. It is somewhat strange, but not 

 more strange than true, that our peregrines, when they can be pro- 

 cured alive, always find, like our grain already spoken of, a speedy 



