GOLDEN EAGLE. 93 



lieved that there were four distinct species, viz. the Cine- 

 reous Eagle, the Sea-Eagle, the Golden Eagle, and the 

 Ring-tailed Eagle ; of which, however, it is now well 

 known that the two former are merely the old and the 

 young of the White-tailed Sea-eagle, the two latter the 

 old and the young of the species described in the pre- 

 sent article. On accounts respecting the exploits of 

 these birds, therefore, little dependence can be placed, 

 when we wish to refer to the precise species. Jn the 

 following account I shall strictly confine myself to facts 

 that relate, not to eagles in general, but to the particu- 

 lar species under consideration. 



My first acquaintance with the Golden Eagle hap- 

 pened in the following manner. On the farm of North- 

 town, in Harris, at that time held by my uncle, great 

 havock had been made among the lambs by the eagles, 

 which resorted to that peninsula from all parts of the 

 mainland, and from the neighbouring island of Shellay, 

 Two pairs usually nestled on the high rocks at its west- 

 ern extremity, and several covered pits had been formed 

 in their vicinity, in the manner described in the pre- 

 ceding pages. I had just commenced the use of the 

 gun, under the guidance of my uncle, and had only as 

 yet fired five shots ; with the first of which I had riddled 

 a table, with the second demolished a rock-pigeon, killed 

 two with the third, and with the rest had done nothing 

 to my credit as a marksman. The sixth was destined 

 for a higher deed. Not finding any flesh or fish, recent 

 or putrid, about the place, I laid hold of a white hen, 

 to the legs of which I fastened a bit of twine and a 

 wooden peg, filled one of my jacket-pockets with barley- 

 grain, the other with old newspapers ; and, taking the 



