THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE 43 



The persecution of the Erne has by no means been 

 confined to the islands. On the mainland, in Western 

 Ross, a single keeper killed no less than fifty-two Sea Eagles 

 during the course of twelve years, and during a winter a 

 hill shepherd accounted for five. Sometimes, however, the 

 birds nested in lofty precipices, where a successful shot 

 was difficult, and where the nest was out of reach. Under 

 such circumstances burning peats were let down to the 

 nest, with hopes that the peat would set fire to the eyrie. 

 I believe this expedient was tried with considerable suc- 

 cess, and also that of lowering bundles of cotton wool 

 into a nest containing young eagles. The youngsters, 

 on seeing the white object descending on to them, imagined 

 that an enemy was making an attack, and lay on their 

 backs, striking upwards with their talons, as is the custom 

 with the young of birds of prey when defending themselves. 

 Their claws, during their thrusts, became firmly embedded in 

 the cotton wool, and thus they were drawn up to the surface. 



Choosing, as it does, less alpine nesting sites than the 

 Golden Eagle, it is somewhat surprising to find that the 

 Erne is rather later in commencing nesting operations 

 than the latter bird, and it is usually the first week in 

 April before the eggs are laid. The nesting materials 

 are much the same as those utilised by the Golden Eagle, 

 only I believe that freshly-pulled fir branches, which are 

 such a feature of Golden Eagles' eyries, are not found in 

 nests of the white-tailed species. Still, in both cases 

 the plant Luzula sylvatica is chosen as a receptacle for 

 the eggs, though the White-tailed Eagle may sometimes 

 add a bunch or two of seaweed for the adornment of the 

 home. The eggs are usually two in number, three are 

 occasionally found, and an instance is on record of four 

 being discovered. When first laid they are of a greyish 

 white colour, quite unspotted, and can thus be at once 

 distinguished from those of the Golden Eagle. In size 



