442 MR M'-ILSON ON THE SUPPOSED IlbENtlTY OP 
those of Temminck, they at least shew that certain ano- 
tnalous changes of plumage take place, either occasionally 
or usually, of which preceding naturalists were not aware. 
But the following simple fact, which I am able to state^ 
both from personal observation, and the concurrent testi- 
mony of those who have passed the greater part of their 
lives in the spot alluded to, and its neighbourhood, would 
of itself be sufficient to prevent my draiving the same con- 
clusion as that at which Mr Selby has arrived. In Jura^ 
one of the W estern Isles, there are two species of eagle in- 
habiting the least accessible of the cliifs. These are the 
great Sea-Eagle or Erne, and the Ring-tail, of which the 
latter is the more numerous. But no bird in the plumage 
of the Golden Eagle has been found thel-e that I can learn, 
within the memory of man. The mature Ring-tail is 
known to haiint and breed there every season^ and may 
5ften be seen by the tourigt or the sportsman soaring in 
magnificent circles above its ancient eyrie. Further, in the 
Fauna Orcadensis of the Reverend George Low, an ac- 
curate and interesting volume, made public some years ago 
by Dr Leach, I find the following notice of the Ring-tailed 
Eagle. " The great characters which distinguish this from 
other species of eagles are, a large broad band of white, 
which encompasses the root of the tail ; the iegs^ which are 
feathered to the very feet ; and in some (which perhaps 
may be the young) the head is hoary. It is of a large size, 
and very frequent in the hills, where it makes its nest in 
the rocks j which is often placed within reach, and, when 
this is the casCj always becomes a prey to destruction. 
These birds are very strong, and make vast havock (in 
breeding-time especially) among lambs^^ young and old 
swine, which they often destroy in the mountains, rabbits, 
and poultry. A clergyman some time ago told me, he met 
with one of them mounted in the air, witli a pretty large 
