33 AQUILA CHRYSAETUS. 



§ 37. 7%ree.— Argyllshire, 16 April, 1856. 



[These eggs were received and blown by me for Mr. Wolley in May 1856, 

 the sender being the person to whom the acquisition of the eggs in the last 

 five sections is mainly due ; but, though no doubt the produce of the same hen 

 bird as those, they are not from the same nest, but from one in the immediate 

 district — a corrie north of the corrie visited by Mr. Wolley in 1851 (§ 28). 

 They were taken 16th April, 1856. The sender says he is sure they were laid 

 by the same bird as those in the preceding five sections ; and I entirely coincide 

 in his opinion, judging only from their number and appearance."] 



[^ 38. T'wo.— Argyllshire, 16 April, 1859. 



These eggs are from the identical nest visited by Mr. Wolley and my brother, 

 as before mentioned in these pages (§§ 32-36), and were sent me in 1860 by 

 the person who acted as guide to them on those occasions. There were no 

 eggs in this nest in 1856 or 1857, though in the fonner year it is believed 

 the hen-bird bred in another spot (§ 37) ; and it was supposed she had since 

 died or been killed. These eggs, being nearly colourless and of a very dif- 

 ferent shape to those which have formerly come from this eyrie, I had accord- 

 ingly thought were the produce of another bird ; but my own experience the 

 year after (1861) has changed my opinion, as will be seen in the next section. 

 The eggs have probably lost coloiu' by having been left unblown more than a 

 year in a damp outhouse.] 



[§ 39. 7^^d;o.— Argyllshire, 22 April, 1861. "A. N. ipse.'' 



These two eggs were taken by myself on the above-mentioned day, fi-om the 

 nest which has already supplied so many specimens. I started betimes in the 

 morning, with the same trusty companions who had before guided Mr. Wolley 

 and my brother to the spot. Just as we got in sight of the hill it came on to 

 rain pretty heavily, and continued doing so most part of the day. As the 

 clouds were low, the view was quite destroyed, and I was unable to bring 

 away any distinct recollection of the scenery. When we came to the foot of 

 the ascent we stopped some time, hoping the mist would clear. This it only 

 partially did ; but the precise situation of the nest was sufficiently well shown 

 to me. After waiting half an hour or so, we began the climb, and I got nearly 

 up to the first bare rocks before I had to stop for my second wind. Then we 

 went on again, finding the snow very soft, and consequently not slipper}' and 

 dangerous as it was when Mr. Wolley was there, within a day of ten years prior 

 to my visit ; but my heart was in my mouth when I saw the forester looking 

 straight down at a hxmiau spoor he could not recognize, for he had just been 

 clapping his hands and shouting to put the bird ofi", without succeeding. I 

 was dreadfully afraid some one had been beforehand with me, but just as we 

 were preparing for the nasty place, he exclaimed " The Eagle !" and there she 

 was, sailing round to the eastward, and soon out of sight. This set at rest my 

 fears of having been forestalled ; and now only the original risk of the eggs being 

 already hatched remained. We had made one or two short halts before we 

 came to the ticklish place, where we had to go sideways on a narrow ledge round 

 the rocks. With my companion's assistance I accomplished it very well, and 



