56 HALI^ETUS ALBICILLA. 



supported by the interlacing of the trunks and main branches of two 

 trees. Mr. St. John did not visit this last. Some said the Eagles 

 sometimes built in a neighbouring mountain instead of on the loch -, 

 but T rather think they were speaking of the pair which had their 

 nest in another loch, on an island amongst the long heather. I 

 walked to a house within four miles of this spot ; but the next day 

 was wet, and the island was said to be a good swim from the shore ; 

 besides which, the birds had not bred there since the young ones 

 were taken some years before by a gentleman in a boat. I heard of 

 this nest from many quarters; it was once robbed by a shepherd in 

 two tubs, and another time by a man w^ho swam to it. A few 

 days previously I met at an inn a gentleman to whom I had a letter 

 of introduction. He wished I had all the Eagles in the country, 

 considering them very numerous, for he had seen seven together not 

 very long before. He said there was one which was very destructive 

 to his lambs. I was able to tell him I had probably shot that bird 

 [§ 68]. The next day I saw a shepherd who had himself killed 

 thirty Eagles whilst the rewards were given. When once Eagles 

 begin to kill lambs they continue to do so, as I also heard in the 

 Fseroes of the Great Skua : they are only said to take them on a 

 windy day, when they can rise easily with a weight. Several people 

 told me this. 



§ 71. 0^?^.— Iceland (?). From Dr. Pitman's Collection, 1852. 



This egg, from the inscription upon it, I believe to have come 

 fi'om Iceland. I had it of Mr. H. F. Walter, it having formed part 

 of Dr. Pitman's Collection. 



§ 72. r^Jo.— Sutherlandshire, May, 1852. 



§ 73. 0^26.— Sutherlandshire, May, 1852. 



These three eggs are from two nests in one of the districts I was 

 unable to visit in 1849. A man who had then been one of my at- 

 tendants sent them to me, saying as follows : — " The nests were on a 

 headland, about a mile and a half from each other, as near as I could 

 judge. I could climb within six yards of one of them without a rope. 

 I then got the lads at the top to throw it to me, by which means I 

 reached the nest, and from thence by the rope to the top. The 

 Eagle was hovering about until I got to the nest, when she came 

 right along the face of the rock by my side with a most fearful 



