File:Birds of Britain (1907) (14568981087).jpg

Identifier: birdsofbritain00bonh (find matches)
Title: Birds of Britain
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Bonhote, J. Lewis (John Lewis), 1875-1922 Dresser, Henry Eeles, 1838-1915
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain
Publisher: London, A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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land. Thanks to this, it is slightlyon the increase in some places, though, as it meets with aspeedy death should it trespass over a grouse moor, it cannever become generally common. It is a truly grand birdto watch as it soars and circles over the few miles of countryto which it claims suzerain rights, and eminently worthy ofprotection as an object of natural beauty. The eyrie, which is resorted to year after year, is placedon the ledge of a crag or more rarely in a tree. It is avast accumulation of sticks, to which additions are madeevery year, and is lined with tufts of grass. The eggs,usually two in number, are bluish white, marked to agreater or lesser extent with reddish brown. Its food consists chiefly of mountain hares, though italso takes birds, lambs, and occasionally the fawns of thedeer; but although it does sometimes take grouse, they donot form its chief food, and certainly the numbers takenare not sufficient to warrant its destruction. 204 GOLDEN EAGLEAquila chrysaetzis
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The Golden Eagle It does not chase its prey, but having marked themdown, pounces on them as they lie. In Ireland a few pairs still breed in the wilder parts ofthe north and west, but elsewhere in our islands it is veryrarely seen, as it is not given to wandering far from itsaccustomed haunts. In England it is exceedingly rare,most of the reported occurrences being immature examplesof the next species. The general colour is a uniform dark brown, tawny onthe nape. Except in its larger size, the female resemblesthe male. Young birds may be distinguished by the whitebases to the outer tail feathers. Length about 23 in.;wing 24 in. THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Haliaetus albicilla (Linnsus) « This species, which was never common in any part of ourislands, is now only found as a breeding bird on a verylimited number of stations on the west coast of Irelandand Scotland. In autumn immature birds are frequentlyobserved round our English coasts on their southwardmigration. The nest is placed usually

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