Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/31

 the country, selecting for the purpose a small island in the moun- tain lakes between Flin's house and Maam. His attention was called to these birds by the country-people remarking, that they were feathered to the toes, and on his approaching the island when incubation was advancing, he obtained so near a view of one of them, as to be certain of its species. Notwithstanding the shy- ness of the golden eagle, it sometimes approaches the houses in remote parts of the district, and is more daring than the sea eagle. A family living a few miles from the locality indicated, were rear- ing a number of young turkeys, and as these birds are prone to wander, several of them were carried off by a golden eagle. The people then endeavoured to confine the turkeys to the immediate vicinity of the house, yet the eagle as usual paid Ins visit. In the attempt to seize one of them, he was baffled by the flock taking cover among some furze, but unwilling to relinquish Ins prey, he alighted on the adjacent ground. One of the men who were at work in the field, having gone for his gun, approached within a few yards of the eagle and attempted to shoot him, when the gun burned priming. The bird now alarmed took wing, but the ten- der flesh of young turkeys was irresistible, and instead of making his escape, he hovered round the place until shot. An eyrie ap- proached by my informant for the purpose of procuring the eggs, (which he has not known in any instance to exceed two in num- ber,) was situated in the face of a steep rock, and although he could get within six feet of it from above, the rock overhanging it prevented all access. Two years previously, some persons look- ing over the cliff at this nest, threw a dog into it, by which means two eaglets were forced out and secured. The poor dog remained in the nest for several days, but when nearly famished, he took courage and leaped down, fortunately without injury.

The Rev. B.J. Clarke remarked, when writing to me in March, 1841, from the wild district of Bermullet (county of Mayo), where he had resided for some time, that, although sea eagles are common there, he had seen the first golden eagle but a few days before : it was on the sand-banks within thirty yards of him. On visiting Achil, off the coast of Mayo, in June, 1834, (accom-