The nature of this species ami its indolent habits have the effect of rendering it less destructive to
game than the Golden Eagle. I have never noticed the latter making a meal off any thing but moderately fresh
prey; while on more than one occasion I have disturbed the Sea-Eagle from a banquet of braxy mutton Unit I
shuuld almost imagine was too far gone to suit the taste of even a Highland shepherd. Whether it is only
prejudice that sets us degenerate southerners against mutton in this form I am imahlc to state from personal
experience, as I never, to my knowledge at least, sat down to a dish. The peculiar and unpleasant odour,
however, t h a t pervades a dwelling in which a store is hanging is particularly striking to a stranger. It is now
many years since I first became acquainted with the fact; but I still retain a vivid recollection of the scene
and flic scent as well. I had gone on a visit to a largo sheep-farmer in the west of Perthshire. No sooner bad
1 entered the door than I became aware of an indescribable change in the purity of the atmosphere. I was not
sufficiently new to the district to imagine the drains were out of order ; hut for a long time I could find uo clue
to the mystery, and I hardly imagined it would lie in accordance with good manners to seek an explanation from
ran host. At last I determined, on the first chance t h a t presented itself, to examine the premises myself; and,
follow iug a more than usually powerful whiff, I drew on towards the hack regions, and eventually found myself
in a large and what ought to have been an airy kitchen ; but here the all-pervading and oppressive odour was
stronger still, though every t h i n g looked bright and clean, from the bare-legged lassies to the utensils they were
scrubbing. Casting my eyes upwards at a number of curious-looking joints banging from the beams, I was
proceeding to continue my investigalions, when the farmer appeared on the same. " Pine stock of hams," ho
remarked ; and, noticing I hardly comprehended his meaning, he added, " aye, grand braxy h a m s . " Need I say
that when the hospitable board was spread I was particularly watchful to look to what dishes I was helped?
and on the earliest opportunity urgent private affairs demanded my presence elsewhere. I subsequently
discovered I need not have liecu under the slightest apprehension, as the braxy was the property of some of tho
shepherds who lodged in another part of the establishment.
These Eagles arc also in the habit of searching the shore for any thing that may lie east up by the waves;
dead fish or almost any refuse proves acceptable, while now and then the carcass of a seal that has been
wounded and escaped for a time is waahed u p ; and this affords the material for a most substantial feast. Gulls,
Banana, and Crows are also attracted to the spot; but each and all are forced to give way when his majesty
appears on the scene. That the Eagle will satisfy his hunger with food of this description I have not tho
slightest doubt; but to state that I have seen him feeding on it is hardly in accordance with tho facts. Once,
while watching a mixed parly that were gathered round the carcass of a half-grown seal, I noticed the arrival
of a fine old Sea-Eagle. After circling two or three times over the spot, and putting the whole of tho
assemblage to flight, he settled on a rock close by, and, shaking his feathers and folding his wings in the most
careful manner, he took up his position where he was enabled to keep the whole of the hungry birds at a
distance. Although I remained some time, in order to see with what sort of an appetite his majesty would
commence bis repast, 1 was doomed to be disappointed. An hour went by without his making the slightest
movement ; at one time Mi attention appeared to be attracted by another Eagle which was slowly circling over
the loch on his way to a distant range of hills ; but lie shortly relapsed into his former condition ; and as there
was no knowing bow long he might remain in that state, I was compelled to leave the spot, as many a long and
weary mile over rough hillsides and marshy glens had to be passed before I reached a place of shelter. It is
probable that the Eagle bad made a meal earlier in the day, and having noticed the attack that was being made
on what be bad intended to supply his future wants, be had simply taken up a position to preserve his larder
from utter ruin. 1 have fnsjuently noticed birds driving others less powerful than themselves from food they
did nut appear to stand the least in need of. Oil my next visit lo the locality an Magic, probably the same, was
making his way from the spot, having evidently been in some manner disturbed by our approach ; and I again
lost an opportunity of watching him feeding.
Mutlon, I think, in one form or another is the usual diet of this species, and for lamb il has
without doubt a great partiality. If, nevertheless, exhibits its cowardly nature in procuring even such a
helpless prey, as it is seldom that nn Eagle will swoop down and carry off a lamb that is not separated from its
mother.
On some of the large sheep-farms, where these birds are forced to be kepi down by trapping in order to
preserve Ihe flocks from their attacks, but few are caplured in seasons when the grass is backward. The linils
used by the keepers or shepherds who undertake the business are for the most part lambs and sheep that
have died. When after a protracted winter and a dry cold spring the herbage is scarce, so many dead
carcasses may be found in all directions scattered over the moors that there is lillle chance that the traps will
la- touched. In search of food in marshy spots many sheep get bogged, aiLil, Liuless speedily rescued, I heir
struggles cause them to sink into the soft ground and (hey soon die; others also Trequenlly attempt to make
their way to some small BTCen paten in the face of a precipitous cliff; here they will remain for days till
discovered by the shepherds and reached by means of ropes; or else in endeavouring lo effect their escape they
loose their fooling and are dashed to pieces in falling. Numbers also come down on the shore at low water to
nibble Ihe seaweed ; and these are almost invariably swept away by the flowing tide, as they appear to hare
not the slightest notion of retreating from the advancing waler by the way that they came, but allow themselves
to lie overtaken by the flood and carried away. They swim for a short distance, but are soon drowned, their
bodies being afterwards east up on some part of the coast. Emm these causes in bad seasons there is always a
plentiful supply of food for the Eagles.
I t has so frequently bceu stated that il was dangerous to approach an Eagle's ne-t, that I suppose there
must have been some foundation for these reports. I am afraid if this was ever the case that the Eagles of the
present day are a sadly degenerate race. An old bird on the nest is not easily driven from her post; but when
once disturbed, she sweeps out from the cliffs, and either entirely takes her departure or remains circling over
tho spot at such a height as to lie perfectly secure from gun-shol. This is my own experience, Bad it coincides
exactly with all tliat I have heard from keepers, shepherd-, and others who have had more opportunities of
observing the habits of these birds than have fallen to my 0 1 n share.
I have never met with any recently-occupied uests of this species except in Ihe face of cliffs either
overhanging or at no great distance from the sea or sail-water lochs. Their nursery is generally a large
clumsy structure of twigs and slick-, with a slight inclination to a cup-shaped resting-place for flic eggs. The
upper portion is finished off with finer materials, a few strands of long coarse grass and some small heatherstalks:
there is generally also a quantity of the roots or stems aud leaves of a bright green rush or flag-like
plant that grows plentifully among the rocks near flic shore ; when gathered it soon fades to a brown tint, and
in this state is seen in the nests.
Some eyries are so placed beneath the shelter of overhanging slabs of rock that to reach them appears
almost impossible; others are simply in the face of steep dill's, and offer no insurmountable difficulties t o those
well acquainted with the roping business; while now aud then this species will choose a spot where the very
roughness of the ground (coarse heather springing up among large uneven blocks of stone, together with the
twisted branches of old and weather-beaten items, and the roots from tough and wiry bushes of mono tain-ash
or holly) renders Ihe feal of climbing to the nest a work of very little risk even without the slightest assistance.
I have also seen a few localities formerly used (with the remnants of Ihe old structure still plainly visible)
where the nest was placed openly in the slope of a hill by no means dangerously steep. It is little wwider that
the tenants had long ceased to occupy any situation so easily assailed.
I t is a common occurrence lo hear those who have visited the Highlands, and explored what they imagine
all the wildest districts, make remarks on the scarcity of Eaglet, In order to sec this species in its native
haunts the usual routes followed by tourists aud sightseers must be avoided. To many parts of the coast where