" Considering tlio rough character of tlm country the walking was by no means had ; owing to the recent
dry weather the low ground was in most parts fairly hard and lit t o cross. A continuation of rain for a
few days wuuld, however, have rapidly converted many of the marshy spots info waving hogs. About a mile
from the nest we w a n joined by a couple of shepherds, who reported that the Eagle had been seen sitting
soon after daybreak. When wc arrived within the distance of a few hundred yards a halt was called, and all
arrangements were inadc, so that there might he no unnecessary noise to disturb the bird. The nest was placed
on a small ledge about sixty or eighty feel from the summit of an almost perpendicular clill', the distance down
to the waler being about three limes that height.
" A s t h e only means of obtaining a shot at the Eagle, either on the nest or while Hying out, was by tiring
from above, it was settled that I was to go down with a rope till I could obtain a view of the sitting bird.
Owing to the ground nbove the clilf being steep for some distance and the turf too slippery to afford safe
bedding-ground to the men paying out the rope, they were forced to take up a position on a higher Mat, and
would be consequently unable to see what line I required ; being encumbered with the gun, and in momentary
expectation of a shot, 1 should have enough to do without passing signals up the hand-line. In order that they
might be acquainted will, what I required, we posted one man on a rock where be could command a view of the
whole of t h e operations and signal my position to those with the rope. A keeper was next sent back to make
his way down to the foot of the rocks with the retriever ' Athol,' so as to be prepared in case the bird should
fall into the water.
" A l l lb bigs being now arranged, we made our way with the ropes slowly and silently to a point on the
hill-ide right above the nest. While the lines were being uncoiled 1 had a good opportunity to look round and
observe the wild and desolate appearance of the country. The nest was in a rugged and uneven range of rocky
el ill's, overhanging a small salt-water loch ; to the north and west the barren hills increased iu height, and the
summits were lost in mist and fog. Owing to the dull and cloudy sky t h e view was more cheerless than it
would otherwise have been; but even under the most favourable circumstances of bright weather and sunshine
the whole m a n was dreary and desolate iu the extreme. A single White-tailed Eagle, probably the mate of
the sitting bird, wheeling high in the air above the loch, and a Great Northern Diver on the water almost
below the nest, were the only signs of life. The mournful cry of the Diver alone broke the oppressive stilluess,
the monotonous roar of the surf breaking on the open eoast being almost lost in the distance.
" A signal from the man on the look out Informed us that the keeper with the dog had reached the appointed
spot, anil, even- t h i n g being ready, with the ropes made fast in such a manner that I could use t h e gun with
ft Coin 111. I prepared to descend. Tho rocks in the face of the clilf were soon reached; and with only one hand
on the ropes for a guide, I managed lo scramble on to a small ledge. Looking down from this point I was ahlo
to discern the edge of the nest, and crawling further out, the white tail of the Eagle came in sight. So far I
could have easily gone without the slightest assistance from the ropes; but to have tired a shot would have been
ullerlj impossible. I tried several spots, but soon discovered that I should have to shoot from the ledge.
Signalling my intentions to the man on the look out, I knelt down on the edge of the rock, and the rope was
most carefully paid o u t ; inch by inch, slow ly b u t surely, I was able t o stretch over the face of the cliff, till at
last I could make out the hack of the bird; and as my position was hardly comfort abb-, I did not wait to make
any further observations, but fired at once, and with a tremendous flutter the Eagle fell backwards over the
precipice, receiving the contents of the second barrel as it disappeared from sight. The rope was next carefully
brought hack so thai 1 was enabled lo regain the ledge. Being here unable to see what had happened to the bird,
I gave the signal to lower away for the nest; this being a straight drop was easily cffeeled, and, crawling t o t he
edge, I had a good view of a most animated scene lielow me. Tho Eagle was still alive and apparently strong,
although with both wings broken close l o the body. Having fallen on the water the wind had carried her
against a small rock about a dozen yards from the shore, here, with her bead turned towards her foes, she
defied the attcmpls of I be dog, who was sw miming round, awaiting a favourable opporl unity for an attack, having
apparently but little fancy lor lacing tin' terrible beak and talons of his antagonist. At last a sudden gust of wind
carried one of the broken pinions over the head or the Eagle, and the dog, seizing the point of the feathers in
his mouth, swam off towards the shore; the poor bird then drifted on its back, and, impotently clutching at
tho air, was dragged to land. On examining the nest (which was composed of dead heather-stalks and pieces
of fir, lined with coarse grass and the roots of a broad-leaved rash) I found tin.1 eggs unbroken, and one large
feather from the wiug-eoverls cut by a shot alone bore wiluess to the murder that had laken place. While
climbing back with the assistance of the ropes I discovered an old stump of niounlaiii.ash almost concealed by
heather. When I reached the ledge above no signs of it could lie discerned ; and this, I expect, had laken off
the greater part of the first charge, and prevented the bird from being killed on the spot.
" By the time I gained the point from which 1 started the Eagle had been brought up from the shore. With
its beak tightly bound up with a leather bootlace, and its powerful legs and claws made fast by some duly white
material that bore a suspicious resemblance to a pair of garters, the poor bird was utterly incapable of mischief',
and lis bright and Hashing eyes alone gave signs of life.
" It was quite possible that the male might soon return ; and having found HIE nc-l unoccupied, I imagined
he would most likely take his place on the eggs. On this account we deferred setting traps till after are had
rested and taken our lunch. Concealing the ropes under some heather, we retired lo a sheltered gully, where
we were perfectly hidden from view. The whole of the arrangements had been carried on! ait bout a hitch ; the
signals had been conveyed and the ropes payed out with the regularity of clockwork. The latter part of the
business had been rather tiekbsh work, as an inch or two more than was required when I fired the shots
would have pitched me headlong off the ledge. 'Athol,' notwilslauding his objection to hymn lanes, bad
done his work right well. Sitting now demurely awaiting his share, he hardly liked to frost the Bagte from
his sight, but ever and anon he turned his eyes towards the slab of stone on which was laid out the body of bis
fallen foe.
" Cautiously returning an hour later, wc found the nest untenanted ; a villanous Grey Crow thing croaking
past was the only bird in sight. As it seemed useless to remain any longer, a couple of traps wen soon set in
the nest; and having securely covered up the ropes lor use on the following day, we left the spol and made our
way homewards across the moors.
"Before leaving the coast wc followed the shores of the loch a short distance further west, in order to
examine with the glasses a small hay that was concealed from sight by a projecting ledge of rocks. Here a
number of Gulls and Crows were collected round the carcass of a dead seal. While watching this assemblage
the arrival of a White-failed Eagle put most of the party to Bight; and 1 particularly noticed a pair of (irey
Crows making a straight course towards the dill's in which the Eagle's nest was placed. The journey before
us was long and the way was rough, or I should certainly have turned back to learn if possible the object of
Iheir visit to this locality.
" May 1st. On reaching the nest the following day I discovered the eggs had been sucked ; this was, without
doubt, the work of Crows, although in some manner the robbers had managed to avoid the traps and make their
cseape. As the shells were almost dry, it was evident that they had l>een broken for some considerable time;
and it is most probable that the damage was done shortly after we quilted the spot the previous evening, and
before the male Eagle had a chance of returning to the nest."
Another extract from my notes will show that even when the eyrie of the Eagle has bisen discovered, the
work of procuring specimens is not always so easy as might be imagined; and the slightest accident or a
moment's forget I'll hi ess may frustrate the best laid plans. I may as well bore state that I was using one of
the newly invented hammerless guns; and to this cause the Eagle was probably indebted fur a slightly longer
lease of life than it would otherwise have enjoyed. The mistake I made in this ease (attempting to shoot