26 



Case 1 . Eagles, one of which has with bloody beak 

 and deathly claws just killed a Rabbit, which is lying 

 mangled beneath them. They are called by the ancients 

 the Birds of Jove, from the great height to which they fly. 

 In the lake of Killarney, on a small island, an Eagle 

 had built a nest, which a hungry peasant resolved to rob 

 of its contents. He accordingly watched the old one 

 away, and swam across ; and was returning with the 

 Eaglets tied to a string : but while thus employed, the 

 old Eagles returned, and missing their young, quickly 

 fell upon, and despatched the plunderer, with their beaks 

 and talons. It is said their nests which are built in the 

 most inaccessible cliffs of the rocks, serve them for life, * 

 which is often protracted to a hundred years. They 

 have been known to exist five weeks without food. 



The next in rotation are the Nocturnal Birds of Prey, 

 Owls : Snowy Owl, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Short and 

 Long-eared Owl. By the power they possess of dilating 

 or contracting the pupil of the eye, they either can take 

 in the faint rays of light at night, or exclude the brighter 

 rays of daylight: the time of their most successful 

 plunder is moonlight ; if they sally forth at dusk, they 

 return before it is quite dark ; and renew their avoca- 

 tions at daybreak, ceasing before the broad daylight 

 dazzles them with its splendour. 



Case. 10. The Omnivorous Birds, or those which 

 live on all kinds of grain, insects, worms and fruit. 

 Amongst these are the Ravens, Carrion Crows, &c. The 

 latter are often mistaken for the Rook : but they differ in 

 the bill, the feathers likewise of the rook being of a more 

 purple and glossy appearance. But the Raven is the 

 largest, and has its bill hooked more ; it is very strong, 

 and can endure hunger, cold, heat : very sagacious, can 

 be taught to speak, and even sing like a man ; it is 

 busy, inquisitive, and impudent, fond of eating, and much 

 addicted to stealing. 



Cases 11 and 12. The hisectivorous Birds, or those 

 which feed principally on insects : such are the Thrush, 

 Blackbird, Fly- Catcher, Warbling Red Breast, Wren, 

 Nightingale, the Field and Meadow Lark. 



