THE GOLDEN EAGLE 17 



is built in one of the most inaccessible parts of the cliffs — a 

 little grass-covered recess about halfway down the precipice 

 where the rocks overhang and form a natural roof to the nest. 

 A careful climb of some four hundred feet brings us to with- 

 in about thirty yards of the nest, which the aid of a rope 

 lowered from above enables us to reach. The nest is a clumsy 

 structure several feet across, wedged into the rock niche and 

 resting on a narrow platform. It is made of heather stems 

 and sticks, not very intricately interwoven, though very 

 compact and solid. The cavity is somewhat shallow, and 

 composed of dead fern leaves, dry grass, and moss, and a few 

 tufts of green herbage. On it rest the Eaglets, clothed in 

 white down amongst which the feathers are fast appearing. 

 With snapping beaks they scramble to the farthest side of 

 the nest, and there huddled together pay but little heed to our 

 intrusion. All round the nest are abundant evidences of the 

 care and assiduity of the parent birds — bones picked clean, 

 fur and feathers ; the remains of lambs and hares and a dead 

 Grouse. What a grand and impressive scene is presented to 

 our view — how w^ild, yet withal how beautiful ! How complete 

 the picture of rock and sea — how harmonious the surround- 

 ings with the young Eagles and their rude home ! It makes 

 us feel thankful we are ornithologists and able to realise and 

 rightly enjoy the poetry of such a scene as this. Long may the 

 Golden Eagle haunt the wild cliffs and glens and mountains of 

 this rugged shore ! for as long as he lives amongst them the 

 crowning object of their beauty is ensured. A bird so closely 

 associated with the Scotch must be spared the fate of igno- 

 minious extinction which threatens it. The lambs and fawns 

 and Grouse the Eagles take are but a cheap price to pay for such 

 an ornament to so wild a land. Before it be too late let the 

 Scotch protect their national bird — the Eagle of their ancestors. 

 Let them stay the cruel war so ruthlessly waged against this 

 handsome bird — a war that bids fair to play its part but too 



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