History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

Circus. BIRDS. ACCIPITRES. o3tail is white. In this state, it is the Chrysaetos cauda annulo albo chicta ofWill., 28 ; Falco fulvus of Lin. S yst. Nat. i. 125 ; or the Ringtail Eagle, or BlackEagle of Pen. Brit. ZooL i. 1G5. In the opinion of some, the ringtail is consideredas a distinct species ;but the facts stated by Temminck and Selby demonstrateits connection with the Golden Eagle.—See Wern, Mem, voL iv.428 and 434.— Preys on sheep and deer.19. A. albiciUa. The Erne.— Tarsi half feathered, andplated. Tail not longer than the wings.Halhetus, Will. Orn. 29. Sibb. Scot. 14 Falco ossifragus, Linn. Syst. L124—Cinereous Eagle, Venn. Brit. ZooL L 170 Falco albicilla, Temm.Orn. L. 49— W; Mor Eryr, Eryr Cynffbnwyn ; G, Iolair—Near the6ea-coast, not rare ;whence termed Sea Eagle.Inferior in size to the preceding. Bill whitish ; hides light-brown ;cereand feet yellowish-white. Plumage dusky-brown, tinged with cinereous.Tail wholly white. Breeds in rocks. Eggs two ;of a white colour, with afew reddish spots. In the young, the plumage is deep-brown, with the marginsof the feathers lighter coloured. Bill and iris black. Tail with the basalhalf whitish-grey, with irregular brown spots on the outer webs ; the extremitybrown. In this last state it is the Sea-Eagle of Pennant, Brit. ZooL i.167- ; the Haliretus and Pygargus of Willoughby and the Vultur ; albicillaand F. ossifragus of Linnseus, all which belong to this species, and seem to be inintermediate stages of plumage. Feeds on fish, aquatic birds, and land annuals.The following device for catching the eagle is said, in the Statist. Account,yoL xxi. p. 221., to be successfully practised in Sutherland. The fox, it isadded, is readily secured by the same snare. ' kA miniature house, at least thewall part of it, is built on ground frequented by the eagle, and an openingleft at the foot of the wall sufficient for the egress of the bird. To the outsideof this opening, a bit of strong skainy (cord) is fixed, with a noose formedon one end, and the other end returning through the noose. After all thisoperation is finished, a piece of carrion is thrown into the house, which theeagle finds out and perches upon. It eats voraciously ; and, when it is fullysatiated, it never thinks of taking its flight immediately upwards, unless disturbed,provided it can find an easier way to get out of the house ; for it appearsthat it is not easy for it to begin its flight but hi an oblique direction ;consequently, it walks deliberately out at the opening left for it, and theekainy being fitly contrived and placed for the purpose, catches hold of, andfairly strangles it."Gen. XII. CIRCUS. Hen-harrier.—-One-third of thetail extending beyond the wings.20. C. cyaneus.— The third and fourth quill-feathers of equallength.40— Pygargus, Will. Subbuteo, Sibb. Scot. 15 Hen-harrier, Perm. BritZooL L 193—Mont. Lin. Trans, ix. 182. Orn. Diet. Suppt Falco cyaneus.Tern. Oni. i. 72— IF, Barcud glas, Bod tinwyn; G, Ant-eunfiorm. Breid air toin.— Not uncommon.Length 18, breadth 40 inches; weight 13 ounces; bill dark blue; cere andlegs yellow ;plumage grey ; under and upper tail-covers, belly, and below thewings, white. Behind the nostrils, and above the eyes, numerous black hairs.The 1st quill, equal in length to the 7th; 2d and 5th nearly equal; 3d and4th longest, and nearly equal. Inner webs of the first four, and outer websof the 3d, 4th, and 5th abbreviated from the middle; 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, black;1st and Gth, greyish ; rest grey. Tail, with the two middle feathers uniform ;the others fighter coloured, and barred with dusky on their inner webs. Theear-feathers, forming a large concha, like a $ufF oh the sides of the neck, dls.