AQUILA CHRYSAETUS. 27 



some time past we had been finding the remains of Grouse and Moun- 

 tain Hares ; and the head forester was afraid there were young. Great 

 consequently was the interest at this point. We hurried round the 

 corner, and my first exclamation was, "Two or three eggs, at all 

 events ! " but another glance showed that there was only one white 

 egg, and a young one hatched within a day or two, lying on its back 

 chirping. The dogs (a Colley and a Terrier) had followed us into the 

 nest and required restraining, as we were all of us at the side of the 

 nest. The nest was in a little sort of cave in the face of the rock, 

 which is ten or twelve feet wide, five or six feet high, and eight or 

 ten feet deep, forming an admirable shelter ; but there was a good 

 deal of dripping at the back part, which is overgrown with Ferns 

 {Lastrcea dilatata), Marchantia, and Golden Saxifrage. The wet, 

 however, does not fall on the inhabited part of the nest. The de- 

 pression was slight, lined with a very little Luzula, but more of Carex- 

 tufts, and the lining was altogether of a good depth. The rest of the 

 nest was made principally of heather, about the usual size, few sticks 

 or none. Luzula sylvatica was growing in plenty near it, and prin- 

 cipally in a long band for a great distance below the nest, which, our 

 guide said, was usual with Eagles' nests, in consequence of the great 

 quantity of animal matter coming from them; and here, at all 

 events, the water which drips from the cavity must assist to wash it 

 down. Our guide pointed out the same thing at the other station 

 on the same mountain. Half a Hare was in the nest when we went 

 into it ; and the men said it would be left to rot there. On taking up 

 the egg, I heard the young one cheeping inside it. I carried it home 

 wrapped in tow in a botanical box ; and on warming it some hours 

 after, it again began to make a noise. I carefully cut a hole in the 

 egg, and with some difficulty extracted the bird, slightly cracking the 

 shell in doing so. There was a good deal still to go into the navel, 

 which was open as wide as a sixpence. I poulticed it with a piece of 

 the membrane, and wrapped the bird up in a bit of wet calico, put in a 

 cup covered with a saucer. I took it to bed with me ; and it was all 

 the following day kept before a good fire, where it still cheeped 

 vigorously. The egg I mended with paste. 



Before quitting the nest we all drank to the health of the young 

 Eagle we were to leave in it. Mr. Edge and I enjoyed the prospect, 

 our guide observing what a splendid picture we should make for 

 Landseer ! There was a most extensive view over what looked like a 

 great plain eastward. The rocks in the neighbourhood were most 

 grandly broken up, like those at the back of Quenaig ; and it is, of 

 all the situations I ever saw, most worthy of an Eagle. Our guide 



