JUnls. / 179 



sticks, one end resting on the ledge of a rock, the otlier on two birch 

 trees, and covered with several layers of rushes and heath. On this 

 nest lay one young one and an addled Qg^, and by them a lamb, a 

 hare, and three heath poults. The nest was about two yards square, 

 and, unlike the nests of other birds, quite flat. The young eagle was 

 black, of the shape of a goshawk, and almost the weight of a goose, 

 rough- footed or feathered down to the foot, and having a white ring 

 about its tail. About the year 1720 one was taken up in the parish 

 of Glossop, upon the high mountain called Kinder-scout, being found 

 in a feeble state, said to be owing to the inclemency of the weather, 

 as it afterwards recovered, and was carried about the country and 

 shown as a natural curiosity. About seventy years ago one was seen 

 in Hardwick park, a noble domain of his Grace the Duke of Devon- 

 shire. A full grown eagle of this species was shot between Crom- 

 ford and Lea wood, about twenty years ago, which was presented to 

 Peter Arkwright, Esq., of Rock House, Cromford, who had it finely 

 preserved. The latest specimen seen in Derbyshire occurred in the 

 winter of the present year (1 843), at Matlock. It frequented the high 

 and craggy rocks of that picturesque village, and more particularly 

 the magnificent one called the High Torr, which, rising 300 feet above 

 the valley of the Derwent, formed a noble throne for the monarch of 

 air. This bird came during a severe snow, and remained a week or 

 ten days, being shot at several times without success, and, we presume 

 not relishing the indignity, flew over the summit in a most majestic 

 manner (apparently unscathed), and was never seen afterwards. 



The Osprey, (Falco haliaetos), Melbourne Pool is an extensive 

 sheet of water, covering an extent of ground little short of 40 acres, 

 having its upper end '' crowned with silver alders," intermingled with 

 long sedge, and its southern bank skirted with tall firs and luxuriant 

 chesnuts, which 



" Bend their green foliage shivering in the wind, 

 To dip into its surface." 



During the winter season this pool becomes the favourite abode of 

 teals, snipes, ducks, and curious aquatic fowl ; and the woodcock, a 

 rare and uncertain visitant, has occasionally been taken here.* In 



* For a notice of another rare and curious bird, shot off this water, the reader is 

 referred to Mr. Yarrell's interesting and beautiful work, 'The British Birds,' vol. ii. 

 p. 434. 



n2 



