144 PRACTICAL ORNITHOLOGY. 



from their roots, sending them rolling over the precipices, and 

 literally scourging the wilderness with ruin. The strength of 

 the hill ox, the fleetness of the mountain deer, and the re- 

 sources of the mountain traveller, are often unavailing ; and 

 when the storm breaks, the signal of the raven and the crow 

 points out the place of their bones ; but the bones of the eagle 

 are not thus given by nature to be tugged at by ignoble birds. 

 Queen of the tempest, she rides as secure amid its fury, as 

 when, on a cloudless and breezeless day, she floats down the 

 valley with easy and almost motionless wing." This may 

 be poetry, but, sure I am, it is not natural history. I have 

 seen an Eagle abroad in a tempest, on this very coast, and a 

 sad time she had of it, for when the blast came upon her una- 

 wares, she was driven about by it, with ruffled feathers, until 

 she recovered her position and faced the wind. While all the 

 time a Raven and some Gulls seemed to enjoy the exercise of 

 labouring with strong beats against the breeze, then with up- 

 turned side giving way to it, bearing up again in an eddy, 

 now shooting high, then slanting downward, the Eagle was 

 glad to make the best of her way to a shelf of the rock. I 

 have seen storms here, that constrained the very Cormorants 

 and Rock Doves to remain for days in their caves, and then, 

 be assured, no Eagle was abroad. 



A Black-backed Gull has alighted near the carcass. How 

 prettily it walks with its small steps as it eyes the carrion 

 with apparently some apprehension. Do you think it smells 

 us 2 Shall I fire ? — No, it will help to entice the Eagle, 

 which may observe it from a distance. The Gull sees some- 

 thing, as you may perceive by its turning its head to one side, 

 and looking wistfully upwards. Heard you not the croak of 

 the Raven ? Ah I there thou art, thou old prowler ! Many 

 hard winters hast thou struggled through, and yet there thou 

 art as grave and fierce as ever, with thy glossy plumes glit- 

 tering in the morning sun. Approach, fear not, for thou 

 shalt receive no harm. There he stands on a tuft, eyeing the 

 dead sheep, and now bending his body forward, he croaks 

 aloud. Presently his mate will be here. The Eagle too, 

 knows the signal croak of the Raven. Should he come, let 



