Scandinavian Eagles. 
235 
As to synonyms for this bird, according to Harrison 
the eagle was frequently called the erne. He says:— 
“ I was once of the opinion that there was a diversitie of kind 
between the eagle and the erne till I perceived that our nation used 
the word erne in most places for the eagle.” ( Eolinshed , vol. i. p. 381.) 
Ben Jonson probably means the eagle when he repre¬ 
sents the augurs watching—- 
“ Which hand the crow cried on, how high 
The vulture or the erne did fly.” 
(The Masque of Augurs.) 
And again, Godolphin was the ancient Cornish name 
for the white sea-eagle, now sometimes called the erne. 
Olaus Magnus thus describes the varieties of eagles 
found in Scandinavia:— 
“ There are six kinds of eagles: the first is Iierodius , called also a 
gir-faulcon, the most noble bird of all, of a blew colour, tending to 
white, except the breast and wings, where it more evidently represents 
a celestial colour: she is so strong, that she will carry an eagle, and so 
full of animosity that if she be let fly in the ayr after four or five 
cranes, she will never forsake the prey, till she strike them all down to 
the ground one after another, and a dog bred for the sport takes them 
away. Nor will this gir-faulcon come down for indignation, till he 
takes away what is fallen. She never breeds more than one young 
one. 
“ The second noble kind after this, is that, which when she hath 
young ones, flyes at geese, swans, coneys, and hares chiefly. This is 
lesse than the gir-faulcon, of divers colours, her feathers are white, and 
ash-colour mingled, and she hath white feathers in her short tail. 
The third, which sits on the bodies of trees, whose tops are cut off, 
whence it hath its name ; and it is of an ash-colour; she flyes at geese 
and ducks, and is less in body and courage than the former two. 
“ The fourth, which catcheth fishes, is of divers colours under the 
belly, white and black on the back, and upon the bunch it hath black 
spots: it hath one foot like a duck, to swim with; another like the 
hawk, to catch the prey: she sits on trees over rivers, lying in wait for 
fish ; and there are great multitudes of them in the northern waters. 
“ The fifth kind is small, and various in colour, but notable cunning. 
