THROUGH WILD EUROPE 33 



was a good day's work, what with the long walk 

 and the climbing and clambering about the rocks ; 

 so much so that our guide — as we both refused to 

 do so — for the greater part of the return journey 

 was glad to mount the poor little donkey, which 

 made no bother about carrying him as well as her 

 proper load. 



The Eagle's nest was situated in an isolated rocky 

 crag, perhaps 100 feet in height, in the middle of a 

 plain. As we approached, guided by two goat- 

 herds whose flocks were grazing near by, a Bonelli's 

 Eagle flew off, revealing her nest high up near the 

 summit. Making a long detour by means of a 

 narrow, slippery goat-track, we came out at the 

 back, and then clambered along the top from one 

 great boulder to another until we were immediately 

 over the nest. Then craning our necks over the 

 edge we could see below us a great, flat nest in 

 which was a large, single egg. 



I was much relieved at the sight ; first, because 

 it was a very late date for eggs of Bonelli's Eagle, 

 and, secondly, because I had somewhat rashly under- 

 taken, if there should be an egg, to take it myself, 

 and Bonelli's Eagle has the worst possible reputa- 

 tion for building in inaccessible situations — ' places 

 that make one's flesh creep to look at,' says Chap- 

 man in Wild Spain — and I was prepared for a much 



more difficult task. 

 3 



