Eagle is the name given to several large birds of prey of the sub-family Aquilinoe of the great family Falconidae, which includes the eagles, falcons, and hawks. The eagle is popularly, though erroneously, regarded as the noblest and most courageous of the rapacious birds. In fact, as the eagle swoops down silently on suspecting prey without warning, it is neither noble nor courageous. The eagle soars to a greater height than any other European bird, from which circumstance the ancients considered it as the bird or messenger of Jove.
The genusAquila which includes the most typical eagles, is distinguished by its long and powerful bill, the curve commencing at the cere, by its wings reaching to the tip of the tail, and by its tarsi being feathered to the toes.
The imperial eagle (Aquila imperialis) of Central Europe is probably the species to which the popular belief in the courage, strength, and nobleness of eagles is to be traced. Aquila chrysaetus, the golden eagle, is the chief British species. It measures over 180 cm (6 feet) from tip to tip of the expanded wings, and 240 cm (8 feet) from the beak to the end of the tail. The adults have the body brownish, becoming darker with age; the feathers of the head and neck pointed, and of a golden-red hue. This species is found all over the northern hemisphere. It was once common in the Highlands of Scotland, but started becoming rare in the 19th century. The Kirghis and other tribes of Central Asia use the golden eagle to kill antelopes, foxes, and even wolves.
Another British eagle is the erne or sea-eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) found near the sea-coast or lakes, and feeding largely on fish. The general colour is greyish-brown, the head pale-coloured, the tail white.
The bald eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus), found in North America and North-east Asia, is the symbol of the United States, though Franklin deplored the selection on account of the bald eagle's mean and dishonest habit of robbing the industrious osprey of the fish it has caught. Like all members of the genus his diet is less restricted than that of the true eagles; and he even takes carrion. Another eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the serpent eagle, Or short-toed eagle, ranges through Southern Europe, Asia, and especially North Africa. In structure and habits this bird approaches the buzzards. Research Eagle
The Erne or Sea Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) is a brown bird of prey with a white tail. It feeds on carrion and also lambs. The nest is built on a sea- cliff, an inland rock, in trees and bushes or on the ground. The Erne breeds in Norethern and Western Scotland and in Norway, but sometimes visits England. Research Erne
HMS Erne was a British Black Swan Class escortsloop of 1250 tons displacement launched in 1940. She was armed with six 4-inch anti-aircraft guns and ten smaller guns. Two 3-drum type boilers provided a top speed of 19.25 knots and she carried a complement of 180. Research Erne
The Uad Martin was a British-built trawler of 600 tons displacement launched in 1917 and purchased by Spain in 1922 for use as a coastguard vessel. The Uad Martin (variously known when a trawler as the Erne and the John Chivers) was coal powered providing a top speed of 9.5 knots and carried a complement of 39. She was armed with one 3 inch gun. Research Uad Martin
The river Erne is a river of Ireland. It rises in Lough Gounagh, in the county of Longford, flows through Lough Oughter and Lough Erne, and falls into Donegal Bay below Ballyshannon after a length of 115 km. Research Erne
Lough Erne is a lake in county Fermanagh, Ireland, consisting of a north or lower, and a south or upper lake (with the town of Enniskillen between), connected by a narrow winding channel, and properly forming only expansions of the river Erne. Its entire length is about 64 km with an average breadth of 10 km. It contains numerous small islands, and is well stocked with fish. Research Lough Erne
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Eagle
