Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/40

 all that were then said to be at "the Horn." The bird which we raised from the nest containing eggs, was thought by the gamekeeper to have no partner, as he had killed a male bird a few weeks before. I gazed for a long time at three of these eagles, both when they were at rest and on wing ; at first through a telescope, bat as they permitted a much nearer approach than was anticipated, I had afterwards an excellent and near view of them. The head and neck in every position appeared almost as white as the tail,* and was so distinguished from a great distance, more especially when thrown into relief by a dark rocky back-ground. One of these birds was pursued by several gulls (Larus canus?) and kestrels, which kept closely flying after, and sometimes even apparently striking him. A gull certainly once did so, but the eagle, "tower- ing in his pride of place," did not deign even momentarily to notice any of his puny assailants.

Here to the present time these noble birds probably still main- tain their ground. I learn from scientific friends f who visited Horn Head on the 4th of August, 1845, that from one point of view they saw five eagles, three old (as denoted by their white tails) soaring above, and two young (as was supposed from their darker plumage) flying along the face of the cliffs. At Tory Island, off this coast, the same party saw two sea eagles a few days afterwards, and were told that a pair, but never more, has always an eyrie there.

Under the Golden Eagle, it has been mentioned, that of the number thirteen or fourteen eagles killed at the Horn within four years,J all but one individual were the Haliaëtos albicilla.

a particular locality, not only in the breeding season, but throughout the year, it would seem that the species is monogamous, or pairs for life.

The colour of the head and neck in preserved specimens of adult birds, (having the tail pure white,) examined by me, have presented considerable difference in this respect, and, though none had this portion of plumage altogether white, yet some were marked so faintly with very pale ash-grey, as to exhibit the appearance of soiled white, which, contrasted with the dark hue of the back and wings, gives from a dis- tance the appearance above described.

t Mr. Edmund Getty, Mr. Geo. C. Hyndman, and Mr. John Grattan, three of the most valuable members of the Scientific and Literary Institutions of Belfast.

X The reward alone could hardly have prompted the destruction of this number, — one shilling a head only being given by the proprietor of the Horn for them.