The Land of the Hills and the Glens 



the weight of the assertion was lessened when he added 

 that the bird was found in the month of March. It would 

 thus appear that this wheatear was an early migrant which 

 had arrived prematurely in the Highlands, and which had 

 sought refuge at the end of a burrow from the cold spell 

 which prevailed at the time. 



Though I have met many stalkers during my wander- 

 ings on the hills, I much doubt whether the place can 

 ever be filled of a noted hillman who has now been laid 

 to rest near the corries he knew and loved so well. It 

 could indeed be said of this veteran that he was one of 

 Nature's most perfect gentlemen. The giant hills of his 

 glen he knew as well as any man, and many were the 

 interesting sights he had witnessed when out on his ex- 

 peditions. On one occasion he had followed a wounded 

 stag to where it had fallen in a burn, and as he was 

 engaged in "gralloching " the beast, he heard an object 

 strike the water beside him with a splash. In surprise, 

 he raised himself quickly — to see a golden eagle check 

 itself suddenly on its downward stoop and soar upwards, 

 leaving a dead ptarmigan to float down stream. 



On another occasion the stalker was on the high tops 

 during a fine summer day. Ptarmigan were restless, and 

 soon the cause of this restlessness was evident, for a couple 

 of eagles crossed the hill, flying out beyond a steep face 

 and passing, if anything, a trifle below the level at which 

 the stalker sat. The "tarmachan" flew wildly, aimlessly, 

 in all directions, but the leading eagle, choosing a victim, 

 rapidly overhauled the bird and struck it down. 



The stalker had also watched the eagles teach their 

 young to fly, sailing out from the rocky hillside and using 

 every persuasion to induce their youngsters to follow them, 

 until at last their efforts were rewarded, and each eaglet, 

 swaying and rocking as an aeroplane in a whole gale of 

 wind, soared out over the corrie. 



Not so long ago I was lucky enough to come across a 



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