THE GOLDEN EAGLE 9 



suddenly aside and transfers his attentions to another 

 member of the covey. 



I have seen an eagle cross and recross a glen when on a 

 hunting expedition, searching a hill-face with considerable 

 care and then with a wide sweep crossing the valley and 

 beating a hill on the opposite side. On such occasions the 

 behaviour of the hunted grouse varies, I think, somewhat. 

 If they happen to be near the actual operations of the 

 eagle they will, in all probability, remain crouching quietly 

 in the shelter of long heather, trusting in their harmonisa- 

 tion with their surroundings to escape the keen eye of 

 their hereditary foe. But should they imagine that they 

 stand a good chance of escape by instant and precipitate 

 flight, they will rise, singly or together, and, flying faster 

 than ever they did at the most sanguinary grouse drive, 

 will endeavour to put as great a distance as possible be- 

 tween themselves and the eagle. One autumn day I was 

 crossing the hills from Perth to Braemar, and at the road- 

 side watched for some time an eagle at his hunting. I 

 had restarted the car and was moving down the glen at a 

 speed of about 25 miles an hour when a covey of grouse 

 shot past me at a velocity greater than that of an express 

 train. There was a whole gale of wind blowing behind 

 them, and I calculate that their speed of flight cannot have 

 been less than 100 miles an hour. As they passed I looked 

 back and saw the eagle still searching a hillside quietly. 

 Either he had not noticed the fugitives, or else he realised 

 that pursuit was useless and so let well alone. 



I think it is possible to tell, by the flight of grouse and 

 ptarmigan, whether they are seeking to escape their heredi- 

 tary enemy, the eagle, or their more recent but much more 

 deadly enemy, man. As a general rule, when the eagle is 

 the cause of disturbance the grouse fly at a greater height 

 above ground and their flight is more precipitate and 

 aimless than when man is the cause of alarm. It is of 



