WHITE-TAILED SEA-EAGLE. 73 



made her escape to the house. The eagle, having for- 

 gotten that *' A hird in the hand is worth two in the 

 bush," was obliged to spread his sails, and move off 

 with a disappointed maw. The hogs which run wild 

 on the hills of Hoy, when attacked by dogs, defend 

 themselves by collecting and forming a circle, and in 

 this manner present an armed front in all directions to 

 their antagonists. 



Pig-styes are made in the hills with turf, of a coni- 

 cal form, with a hole at the top. A pig happened to 

 be left in one by mistake, and, being unable to get out, 

 died in due time. An eagle passing over the stye, 

 peeped in and spied the carcass, upon which he de- 

 scended through the hole and feasted to his content. 

 This eagle, like the mouse in the meal-tub, had forgot- 

 ten that one may sometimes get into a place without 

 being able to get out again ; and so it fared with him, 

 for he was taken alive and executed as a felon. 



In the Statistical Account, vol. xxi. p. ^21, eagles 

 are said to be frequently destroyed in Sutherland in 

 the following manner : " A miniature house, at least 

 thie wall part of it, is built on ground frequented by the 

 eagle, and an opening left at the foot of the wall suffi- 

 cient for the egress of the bird. To the outside of this 

 opening a bit of strong cord is fixed, with a noose 

 formed on one end, and the other end returning through 

 the noose. After all this operation is finished, a piece 

 of carrion is thrown into the house, which the eagle 

 finds out and perches upon. It eats voraciously ; and, 

 when it is fully satiated, it never thinks of taking its 

 flight immediately upwards unless disturbed, provided 

 it can find an easier way to get out of the house ; for 



G 



