4 G O L D E N K.U.I.I:.
bird* ratad; and placing a fal^JJN—iwl trap on each, wo made tliem fast round the mots of tlie trees.
On our way downhill, anil within a quarter of a mile of the ledge, we oamu across a mountain-hare half
consumed, which had evidently only been recently hilled, and had probably just furnished a meal for tin: Eagle.
The following day, having delayed looking at the traps till after it was likely the birds had fed anil then retired
t o rat, we again passed over t h e same ground, and after having observed that the remains of the bare had liecn
carefully picked, we were by no means surprised to find one taken. The trap was again earefully reset, and
he tore a week had passed a eouple more had shared the same fate. As I was then leaving the district, the
traps were removiil; hut in less than a fortnight I learned that another pair of birds, both immature, were
noticed frequenting the spot; and, again, a year later I found others still there.
Tim first Eagle taken had but otic loot ; and as the bird was a male in almost adult plumage, I thought
that the ledge would probably have been his nesting-place had it not been for his mutilated condition. The
nest two captured were a young male and female only in the second year's phunage ; and this at oneo put an
end lo my supposition thai it was a pair that frequented the spot. It was not till the others were noticed
that 1 had any idea how extensively the place was used; and it appears strange that the birds should have such
a fancy for this particular ledge, as they could with hut little difficulty be stalked from three different quarters.
I t is by no means an uncommon occurrence to take a u Eagle that shows signs of having at some time or
other suffered from the effects of a steel trap. To hold a bird of the sine and strength of an Eagle with any
certainty requires a large and heavy trap ; they may at times he captured in one of the common size used for
rabbits or Crows and other small vermin; but for a single bird that is taken several most probably will make
their escape, tearing behind them either toes or claws. If the traps could be visited regularly, the birils might
possibly lie secured; but on the high moors snow is liable to fall at almost any time of year, while in some
parts mist and fog for days may render crossing the hills and searching the ground utterly impossible.
The Ea™le may without fear of eontradiction, I think, be termed essentially a lazy and indolent bird,
unwilling or unable to capture for himself any prey that would require much exertion on his part. Hares or
rabbits when surprised in the open most probably fall easy victims, while lambs or fawns are far too feeble to
cause him any irreat amount of trouble. I cannot call to mind a single instance where I have observed him
in pursuit of any winged game that was not partially crippled by shot, while I have noticed scores of times
that be has contented himself by matin-1 an ignoble meal off some wretched Crow Or Other vermin that was
straggling in a trap. A keeper in the north related to me the following incident; and as it helps to illustrate
t h e character of the bird, it may not be out of p l a ce
l i e was on his rounds visiting the traps, when his attention was attracted by an Eagle which was rising a
short distance hi the air and again dashing down. On carefully approaching the spot (a rough and stony
gully, where he was easily able to obtain a view) he discovered a wild eat held by a clam, and the Eagle
swooping down, as lie imagined, attempting to seize t h e cat. Every time t h e bird approached with outstretched
talons the cat sprung forward to the fullest extent of its rhain, and the Eagle sheared off. Crawling still
nearer, he was at Inst observed, and the bird reluctantly sailed away to a range of hills above the spot where the
encounter bad taken place. Making sure that the Eagle would speedily return, he killed the eat and left it as
a bait; then, resetting his trap, he threw the rabbit which had been bis former liait on one side, and rapidly
left the spot. Returning after a few hours quite confident of finding the Eagle in the trap, lie was greatly
surprised to discover every tiling apparently untouched. It was only when he bad removed the cat, whose skin
In- required, and looked out for the bait previously used, that he noticed the rabbit had disappeared from
where be had lluag it in the morning, and was nowhere to lie found. Had lie only thought for a moment, it
ought to have been clear to him that the Ea.de would never have attempted to interfere with the cat (a true
wild eat is far too rough a customer to he tackled with impunity), and the hungry bird was simply endeavouring
to reach the rabbit ; even this pi III Muting the eat most forcibly resisted ; and it was not till he returned and
GOLDEN EAGLE.
found every thing quiet that, be managed to search out the prey he was originally [n quest of anil then
make off.
There can be but little donht that Eagles are able to take Grouse and other birds should they be forced
to make the necessary exertion. I have seen remains of Grouse and HIaekgame within a short distance of lln-ir
breeding-quarters ; while, if all the stories that i have heard from shepherds and others are to be believed, so
plentifully do they stock their larder, that the nest at times must hear a resemblance to a well-furnished
stall a t a poulterer's.
While the young arc small and helpless they ate probably supplied by the old bird with partially digested
food. I have watched Hie female shortly afler her arrival at the nest apparently disgorging something; hut I
was unable to get a view of the young at the same moment. I have also observed a young one calling
continually, evidently needing food, but perfectly Unable to help ilself to n mountain-hare and the remains of a
lamb which were both close at hand on the side of the nest.
Should any accident happen to one or the old birds, the survivor has hard work to procure food for the
nestlings and keep watch at the same time. I observed an instance where the female having been shot shortly
after hatching, the male brought food and regularly attended to the young one; before many days had passed,
on visiting the spot, I discovered the nestling dead and partially eaten. This, I conclude, must have been
the work of Grey Crows. I did not catch them in the act, hut 1 noticed one Hying along the hillside
croaking loudly within about a quarter of a mile of the spot.
The situations chosen by the Golden Eagle for lire*'ding-purposes vary considerably. I have never seen
their nests so open and exposed to (lie storm and wind as those of the Sea-Eagle; they appear, in most
instances, to seek a more sheltered and hidden position. At times the eyrie may he in the face of a precipitous
range of rocks, utterly inaccessible except to those well acquainted with the use of ropes; hut more frequently
it requires hut little skill to scramble within a few feet ol' the sp(,t, and, with the assistance of a single line from
nhovc, to reach the nest itself. Numbers of ledges showing more or less of the old and weather-beaten
nests have been pointed out to me, where, without the slightest help, a very moderate climber might easily
make his way to the spot. These localities, with the exception of those in the strictly preserved deer-forests, are
now nearly all deserted. I have, however, during the last fewycars frequently heard of Eagles taking up their
quarters and nestinj; in districts where their presence formerly, except during an occasional lying visit, was
The most curious and striking nest of this speci.s that I ever came across was placed just above a sloping
bank that was a perfect bed of primrose-roots. A Btuuti-d holly-bush formed a background and broke the
dull appearance of the dark and sombre slab of rock that rose straight from the back of the ledge. The
primroses were a mass of bloom, but the holly looked as dried and uncomfortable as if it was struggling for
existence in the smoky atmosphere or some London garden.
I t is seldom, I believe, that the nests are now to be found on trees. The old and decaying remnants of
the deserted structures may still be seen, hut the tenants have lung lteen evicted. I am an arc. of but two evrics
so placed which arc still used in the Northern Highlands; in both instances a large Scotch fir is the tree
resorted to. The materials used for building by the Golden Eagle vary according to the district; I have seen
the foundation formed of the dead branches of the nearest trees (pine or birch as a rnle|, while heather,
coarse grass, and the roots or leaves of any itHMg gliwlllg plant arc worked round the upper portion.
I nm quite bjnofasri how many years scientific authors are in the habit of allotting lo lids Special before it
arrives at maturity. )ty Own Opinion, formed cutircly from specimens I have obtained or Hatched in a state
of nature, is that, the bird is at least, live or six years of age before it gains the perfectly adult dress. The first
feathers on the back, breast, and wings are a dark brown, with a rich deep plum-coloured tint or bloom. It is
a strange fact that in the Golden Ragle the tail is at first almost white, with only a black hand round the