4 
FALCONID.^:. 
in Anery se^'ere weather, or in summer, when the requirements 
of its small hut insatiable brood compel it to forage among 
the neighbouring isles. 
Although more easily contented with carrion than the Golden 
Eagle, it nevertheless preys largely upon rabbits, poultry, and 
birds of various kinds — from the domestic fowl or duck at 
the cottage door to the harmless little sandpiper upon the 
sands. It will also occasionally take a lamb from the hillside ; 
but the statement of some authors, that it will attack a weakly 
sheep or pony, is simply the result of imagination. It is 
extremely partial to rabbits, and in pursuit of these will take 
up its abode for several days in succession in the uninhabited 
island of Balta, where it is tolerably secure from disturbance. 
So exceedingly numerous are the rabbits in that locality, that 
the Erne seldom considers it worth while to devour them in the 
usual manner; but tearing a hole a little behind the ribs, and 
another near the shoulder, and extracting the viscera — its 
favourite morsels — through these, leaves skin and carcase for 
the next comer. I have observed the same habit with the 
Golden Eagle, in the same island. 
Fish are always acceptable, but the often repeated tale of 
the mode of capture, devoutly believed in by the naturalists 
of former generations, is now only cherished by the ignorant. 
In the ‘‘View of the Zetland Islands,”* abeady alluded to, we 
have the following account of the m.atter: — “Fish, I believe, 
is his general food; and he boldly attacks the largest kinds 
if they hapj:)en to come to the surface. Several desperate 
combats have been witnessed betw^een this bird and the 
halibut. The former strikes his claw’S into the fish wdth all 
his force, determined not to forego his hold, and, although but 
rarely, is sometimes drowned in the attempt to carry off his 
prize. AVlien lie has overcome the halibut, he raises one of 
his wings, w'hich serves as a sail, and, if favoured by the wdnd, 
in that attitude drifts towards the land. The moment he 
touches the shore, lie begins to eat out and disengage his 
* Vol. ii. ]). 228. 
