BIRDS 187 



written between 1272 and 1307. From this we gather that 

 ' Nichole foreste ' was let, ' and they of the forest [the small 

 tenants] must preserve the nests of sparrowhawks and eagles.' 1 

 This vague allusion states all that can be learnt until the seven- 

 teenth century, when materials begin to accumulate; very 

 general in their character, it is true, but abundantly proving 

 that Eagles then bred among the mountains of central and 

 western Lakeland, notably in the region of the precipices (includ- 

 ing Martindale, Patterdale, and Grizedale), at the head of Ulles- 

 water Lake. On the 26th of March 1677, we find Thomas 

 Machell writing from Queen's College, Oxford, to his friend Sir 

 D. Fleming of Eydal : ' I am anxious to do what I can towards 

 a history of Cumberland and Westmoreland. I have sent out 

 queries in order to ascertain what families possess ancient evi- 

 dences, and how things stand at this day in each parish.' 2 It 

 is no doubt to Machell's efforts to collect materials from all 

 quarters for his history, that we are indebted for the following- 

 facts. As regards the question of the birds nesting with us, 

 Machell names two eyries of Eagles. Of Patterdale he says, 

 • And two miles further s. from hence (Deepdale) in a huge 

 Rock w ch is called Ling bone, and stands west from Hartsop 

 about a mile are large eagles bred.' Of ' Grasmere. Eagles 

 breed in B lea Crag.' 3 He describes the capture of a couple of 

 Eagles in the neighbourhood of Patterdale. 'In 1669 one 

 William Thomas of Deepdale, Bridge End, being but a youth of 

 1 7 years old, encountered an Eagle on the like occasion, but she so 

 seemeth was not able to flye by reason her feathers were mouted 

 and spent by hatching her young ones, for it was about midsomer 

 tide. He chased her several times round a stone ; and at last 

 took her by falling upon her, but not without some loss of blood. 

 ' Mr. Mounsey, to whom she was brought alive, and who kept 

 her a week and kild her afterwards by running a penknife into 

 her heart : and gave the Coat of her to Thomas Smyth, a New- 

 castle merchant for 3 U of Tobacco.' As to the species, he says 

 that it was ' A sort of Eagle called an Iron (or Earne or Erne) 

 here. In Scotland a Naron, being of a Blackish brown colour,' 



1 Documents relating to Scotland, vol. ii. p. 64. 



2 Rydal ms., p. 135. 3 lb. p. 135. 



