6 
BRITISH BIRDS* 
upwards of three feet ; and in breadth, from wing - 
to wing, above eight ; and weighs from fixteen to 
eighteen pounds. The male is fmaller, and does 
not weigh more than twelve pounds. The bill 
is of a deep blue colour ; the cere yellow ; the 
eyes are large, deep funk, and covered by a 
proje£ling brow ; the iris is of a line bright yel- 
low, and fparkles with uncommon luftre. The 
general colour is deep brown, mixed with tawny 
on the head and neck; the quills are chocolate, 
with white ihafts ; the tail is black, fpotted with alh 
colour ; the legs are yellow, and feathered down to 
the toes, which are very fcaly ; the claws are re- 
markably large ; the middle one is two inches in 
length. — This noble bird is found in various parts 
of Europe ; it abounds moft in the warmer regions, 
and has feldom been met with farther north than 
the fifty-fifth degree of latitude. It is known to 
breed in the mountainous parts of Ireland ; it lays 
three, and fometimes four eggs, of which it feldom 
happens that more than two are prolific. Mr Pen- 
nant fays there are inftances, though rare, of their 
having bred in Snowdon Hills. Mr Wallis, in his 
Natural Hiltory of Northumberland, fays, it former- 
ly had its aery on the higheft: and fteepeft part 
of Cheviot. In the beginning of January, 1735, 
a very large one was fhot near Warkworth, which 
meafured, from point to point of its wings, eleven 
feet and a quarter* 
