194 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
far south as the islands of the Mediterranean ; and though 
occu^tg Z the east coast of Great Britain almost annuaUy 
TdTn considerable numbers, it is seldom that more than 
two individuals are seen together in this county. 
Considerable confusion seems to exist locally 
determinSg this species from the Common Buzzard so 
determimng ^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ doubtful 
much so, that 1 have naa j/'^gh-legged Buzzard is, 
reports of its occurrence. The Kougn legge 
, i niinrters distinguishable at a glance 
of the legs feathered to the toes. 
THE GOLDEN EAGLE. Aquila chrysaetus (Linnaeus). 
" The eagle soars high o'er the hill. 
Amid the realms of sky and cloud. 
And tampers but with what is great, 
so History soars ^^o^e^y.^^^^-^,^ 
Formerly a resident specie. ; is now a very rare visitor. 
At the end of the eighteenth century it is presumable that 
toth the Golden and White-tailed Eagles bred m Dum ries- 
sSl but so inextricably have the two species been confused 
that it i impossible at this late date to disentangle many 
S the various records; moreover, confusion has become 
ISe confounded by the careless discrimina Jon beWeen 
the White-tailed Eagle and the Osprey. .^^"'ff' 
may yet be brought to light ; and m treating of this and the 
Swing species! I would gladly have avoided the respon- 
sSy of arbitktion involved by ^Uocatrng the various 
taf^ecords of eagles, to the Golden and White-tailed 
-"tt ::r:t:X to the pansh of Mmnigae (Kirk- 
* Man. Brit. Birds, 1899, p. 323. 
