THE GOLDEN EAGLE 33 



then to pounce on to a calf. The animal's mother im- 

 mediately rushed to the spot and threw herself on the 

 eagle, whereupon hind, calf, and eagle rolled over and 

 over dowTi the hillside. On releasing itself the eagle 

 flew off, somewhat shaken, and the life of the calf was 

 saved. 



There is a story that once an eagle was attacking a 

 hind, which made for a thick wood. As she ran through 

 the plantation at top speed, the eagle, in its endeavours to 

 bring her to a standstill, grasped a branch with one of its 

 feet while holding the back of the hind firmly with the 

 other. But its strength was useless against the weight 

 and impetus of the quickly-moving deer, and it was torn 

 asunder as the hind pressed forward. 



There is no doubt that eagles use a great deal of intel- 

 ligence in their efforts to encompass the destruction of a 

 stag or hind. They realise that they are powerless to kill 

 the best in fair fight, so they attempt to achieve this end 

 by strategy. Choosing out a young or sickly deer, they 

 endeavour, first to separate it from the herd, and then to 

 drive it over some rock where it will either kill itself out- 

 right or else lie in a more or less defenceless state and fall 

 an easy victim. The eagle hovers about the head of the 

 unfortunate animal, buffeting it with its wings, and 

 endeavours so to blind it that it stumbles over the rock 

 unknowingly. 



It is remarkable, considering how many traps are set 

 for hoodies and foxes, that an eagle is only occasionally 

 captured in this way. In a forest on the borders of Forfar 

 and Aberdeen an eagle was found in such a trap. The 

 bird had only just died when discovered — but not from 

 want of food, for the remains of two freshly-killed grouse 

 and a blue hare were lying within reach. They had evi- 

 dently been brought by the eagle's mate for its unfortunate 

 companion, and the incident more fully brings out, I 



c 



