94 Baby Birds at Home 



upon hares, rabbits, grouse, ptarmigan, occa- 

 sionally lambs, and frequently carrion. 



In some Scottish deer forests it is now 

 preserved and encouraged because it keeps 

 down the number of mountain or blue hares. 

 When these animals become too numerous 

 they make deer-stalking very difficult, by 

 running about upon being disturbed by the 

 sportsman, and thus giving warning of danger 

 to the ever alert stags. 



The Golden Eagle breeds on ledges in 

 cliffs and occasionally in trees, and is very 

 partial to an old haunt. The eyrie, as the 

 nest is called, is built of sticks, pieces of 

 heather, moss, fern-fronds, grass and occa- 

 sionally wool. Old eyries are repaired every 

 spring until they become very bulky. The 

 writer has seen one that would have filled the 

 body of an ordinary cart. 



Two, and sometimes three, eggs are laid ; 

 these are dull white, clouded, blotched, and 

 spotted nearly all over with rusty brown. 



Young Eagles grow slowly, and when they 

 have fledged and been taught how to catch 

 their prey, are driven away by their parents, 

 because too many birds of this species could 

 not find food in the same neighbourhood. 



