368 
Mr. W. H. Simpson’s Fortnight 
is not a tree or fence of any kind to break the uniformity of the 
scene. From some points along the height of land the sea 
bounds the view on the east: all else is the land of grass, with 
here and there a patch of corn, according as the fancy of some 
enterprising individual may have sown it. Not grass, however, 
in the sense of our English turf; nowhere in the East is such 
a thing to be found; but yet a goodly supply of herbage such as 
might feed thousands of sheep. A few low blackthorn bushes 
occasionally dot the surface. Towards the end of April they are 
just coming out into blossom, giving a pleasant air of spring as 
one passes by. To believe that such bushes, sometimes only a 
foot in height, will hold an Eagle’s or Harrier’s nest, requires a 
considerable amount of faith ; yet this is undoubtedly sometimes 
the case. Generally, however, the Eagle (Aquila ncevio ), which 
/ mostly haunts these downs, has its nest upon the ground. I 
tgot found, or was directed to, no less than four, two of which were on 
the ground, under the shelter of bushes; two were on the bare 
plain. Out of the whole four I only got two eggs, and these very 
poorly-marked specimens. From some cause to me inexplicable 
the eggs were generally broken, the fragments being sometimes 
trailed several yards from the nest, which is itself a slight struc¬ 
ture composed of a few sticks with a lining of wool carelessly 
arranged. In one was a piece of coloured cloth. The old bird, 
of course, sees any one approaching a long way off, and may, in 
consequence, attempt to carry away the eggs. There are, how¬ 
ever, several Grey Crows (Corvus cornix ) on the look-out for waifs 
and strays, and these may be at the bottom of the mystery. 
The Spotted Eagle is generally a tree-building bird, but here it 
seems to confine itself to the open country, where probably it 
feeds largely upon the lizards and small animals that are so 
numerous. I made several attempts to procure a specimen, but 
without success; neither could I obtain one of the Harrier (sup¬ 
posed to be Circus cineraceus ), which is perpetually hawking the 
Grey Partridge on these downs. One of the favourite breeding- 
places of this bird is along the banks of Trajan’s wall so called, 
but which is really a system of mounds and ditches more or less 
perfect. 
The westward slope of the height of land in the neighbour- 
h 
