The Natural History of Ireland/Volume 1/The Spotted Eagle

THE SPOTTED EAGLE. The Rough-footed Eagle.


 * Aquila nosvia, Brisson.


 * Falco F. maculatus, Gmel.

Has been obtained in the south of Ireland.

In September, 1845, Mr. R. Davis, jun., of Clonmel, wrote to me respecting a bird then in Iris possession : " In contour, bill, eyes, legs, &c, it is a miniature of the golden eagle, but about one-third less than a male of that species ; except the tail-coverts and some spots on the wings and breast, it is entirely of a very deep glossy blackish- brown : the body is of small size, comparatively with the head, wings, and tail." [Claws, yellow ; beak, horn-colour, with a yellow streak at the base; weight, rather exceeding that of a full-grown raven. * ] This gentleman subsequently forwarded for my inspection, a coloured drawing of the bird, (which he believed to be of this species,) representing it in immature plumage. A wood-cut taken from the drawing has appeared in the second edition of Yarrell's British Birds, vol. i. p. 10, and in the Zoologist for January, 1846. In a communication made to the Annals of Natural History for Nov., 1845, p. 351, Mr. Davis stated that the bird was shot when preying on a rabbit, in January, 1845, on the estate of the Earl of Shannon, in the county of Cork. Another eagle of the same species, said to be similarly marked, but rather lighter in colour, had been killed there a few days before. The two birds had been observed for several weeks previously, sweeping over the low grounds between Castle-martyr and Clay Castle, near Youghal.

In a letter from Dr. Harvey of Cork, dated Oct. 30, 1845, it was remarked, with reference to the Irish specimen: — "Mr. Parker** took a portrait of the little eagle while I had it for a short time, and mentioned a singular coincidence. When on a visit to Mr. Butler of Waterville, a few days before the bird came under his inspection, that gentleman had mentioned a small brown eagle, in all respects like a golden eagle, except in being about half the size, as frequenting the mountains above Cahirciveen, in Kerry : — he had seen it occasionally during the last seven or eight years. To the Rev. Mr. Bastable, a clergyman of the neighbourhood, it was likewise known." I have little doubt, also, that a bird particularly described to myself, when visiting Horn Head (Donegal), in 1832, as having been shot there the previous year, was of this species.

The Spotted Eagle has not been met with in England or Scotland. In Continental Europe, it appears to inhabit chiefly the east and south ; but has been obtained in most of the countries southward of the Baltic Sea, including Belgium and France.


 * Noted by Mr. S. Moss, of Youghal, who received the bird iu a fresh state.
 * A gentleman whose splendid collection of coloured drawings of native birds,mostly life-size, and all executed by himself, attracted great admiration in the Natural History Section of the British Association at Cork, iu 1843.