12 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
Its bill is large, much hooked, and of a blueifh 
colour ; its eye is yellow ; a row of ftrong brifhly 
feathers hangs down from its under bill next to its 
throat, from whence it has been termed the beard- 
ed Eagle ; the top of the head and back part of 
the neck are dark brown, inclining to black ; the 
feathers on the back are variegated by a lighter 
brown, with dark edges ; the fcapulars are pale 
brown, the edges nearly white ; the breall and 
belly whitilh, with irregular fpots of brown; the 
tail feathers are dark brown ; the outer edges of 
the exterior feathers whitilh; the quill feathers 
and thighs are dulky ; the legs and feet yellow ; 
the claws, which are large, and form a compleat 
femicircle, are of a fhining black. It is found in 
various parts of Europe and America ; it is faid 
to lay only two eggs during the whole year, and 
frequently produces only one young one ; it is 
however widely difperfed, and was met with at 
Botany Illand by Captain Cook. It lives chiefly 
on fifh ; its ufual haunts are by the fea-lhore ; it 
alfo frequents the borders of large lakes and ri- 
vers ; and is faid to fee fo dillin£tly in the dark, 
as to be able to purfue and catch its prey during 
the night. The ftory of the Eagle, brought to the 
ground after a fevere conflict with a cat which 
it had feized and taken up into the air with its ta^ 
Ions, is very remarkable. Mr Barlow, who was 
an eye-witnefs of the fa£t, made a drawing of it, 
which he afterwards engraved# 
