Northern Observations of Inland Birds 21 



jackets strewn about the lofty pinnacles seemed to indicate 

 that mountain hares figure very conspicuously on the 

 eagle's menu. An eagle is more likely to fall foul of a 

 trap bated with a young rabbit than to any other set I 

 know, and in the spring of the year these birds persistently 

 hunt the wilder valleys in search of young rabbits. A 

 well-known Scottish naturalist describes how he saw a 

 pair of them viciously attacking a fox, which was doing 

 its best to defend itself, keeping up a running fight towards 

 cover, and the observer states that he has little doubt 

 that the fate of the fox was sealed. One is inclined fully 

 to endorse his views, for eagles have been known to 

 descend upon dogs accompanying sportsmen and working 

 just ahead of the guns.^ 



In Canada a half-breed who was accompanying me 

 one day drew my attention to the remains of a fox freshly 

 killed by an eagle. The poor fellow was much disap- 

 pointed, as the pelt of the fox, now worthless, was a rare 

 silver specimen. Had we been a few minutes earlier 

 the find would have been worth many dollars to the guide. 

 In the same locality I one day fired frivolously with a rifle 

 at an eagle which was circling over our heads, and no 

 one was more surprised than myself when we saw the 



* In the winter of 1922 an eagle was known to attack deer and sheep in the 

 Strathglass Beauly district. It was thought that the same bird was in each case 

 the aggressor. The deer were attacked in the forest of Benula, in Glencannich, 

 The keepers were out after hinds, and were watching the herd when an eagle 

 swooped down and attacked one of the animals. The deer attacked was a knobber 

 suffering from an old wound. The bird alighted on its back, and seemed to be 

 trying to reach the eyes. Every time this happened the deer galloped downhill, 

 and the jolting was too much for the eagle, whereupon it became enraged, and 

 leaving the wounded animal it tried to overpower two different hinds with similar 

 results. 



A week after this incident one of the keepers who had been present was help- 

 ing to gather sheep in Cozac forest when a big eagle swooped down on to the back 

 of a young sheep. The man and his dog were only thirty yards distant, and the 

 bird appeared to be trying to force its talons through the wool of its intended 

 \dctim. Three times it attacked the sheep, and each time it failed to do damage. 

 Eventually it flew away unconcernedly. 



The incidents occurred in December, during mild weather, when there was 

 very little snow even on the tops. Rabbits were abundant, and there seemed 

 little reason for the unusual ferocity of the bird. — H.M.B. 



