1890-91-] Hozv I Robbed the Eagles Nest, and Wliy. 463 



gelatin, and albumen in definite proportions. The mixture is 

 dried and finely ground, then placed in a heated mould and 

 subjected to a pressure of two tons to the square inch. This 

 product is said to be an excellent substitute for ivory ; and if 

 it proves suitable for billiard-balls, combs, brush backs, bell- 

 pull handles, and articles of ornament, it will command a 

 ready sale, and very soon bring a fortune to the manufacturer. 



XI.— HOW I ROBBED THE EAGLES NEST, 

 AND WHY. 



By Mr TOM SPEEDY. 



{Read Ap-il 22, 1S91.) 



In the spring of 1890, while spending a few days with a friend 

 in Eoss-shire, I learnt that a pair of eagles had their eyrie in 

 a rock in the centre of the deer-forest. As a number of 

 lambs had disappeared from a neighbouring farm the previous 

 year, and an eagle had been seen in the act of carrying one 

 off, the farmer vowed vengeance against these robbers of his 

 flock. After a series of complaints, it was reluctantly agreed 

 to destroy the eagles. Being consulted in the matter, I 

 suggested that, as it is only when the birds have to provide 

 food for their progeny that they carry off "lambs, if we could 

 manage to rob the nest the parents might be spared. The 

 keeper feared this was impossible, as the eyrie was in an 

 inaccessible rock ; but borrowing a cart-rope from the farmer, 

 and taking with us a gun and cartridges, we wended our way 

 towards the place. A couple of hours' walking took us to the 

 bottom of the rock, which we carefully scrutinised with the 

 telescope. We discovered that a birch-tree grew out about 

 twenty-five or thirty feet above the eyrie, which we thought 

 it possible to reach. We accordingly started to go a long 

 way round on this mission, and with very considerable diffi- 

 culty reached the birch-tree, my companion carrying the gun 

 and rope, and I a stout walking-stick. On arriving at the tree, 



