Out-manceuvring an Eagle 207 
to alighting on some stone on the summit of the low undulating 
hills bordering on the marshes, where they remain motionless for 
an indefinite period, prior to resuming their circlings overhead. 
Only last November, when riding across some hills on my way to 
shoot Snipe, I saw one in such a situation, and so intensely black 
did it appear in the sunlight that until [ got out my field-glasses, | 
imagined it to be a Raven! Simply as a matter of curiosity I tried 
to see how near I could approach it, by means of the old scouting 
stratagem of pretending not to notice it so long as I was in view, 
and, when once out of sight under cover of a fold of the ground, 
galloping my horse straight for the spot. The ruse was successful, 
and so completely deceived was this most wary bird that | rode 
within 30 yards before it saw me. It was blowing half a gale at 
the time and the Eagle having to rise against the wind came 
flapping within 15 yards of me. It was truly a magnificent 
sight to see such a splendid bird thus striving with the elements at 
such close range. In the brilliant sunlight, the light golden of the 
neck and the snowy whiteness of the shoulders formed a striking 
contrast to the rich black brown of the back and wings. Small 
wonder is it then that the Spaniards all know it by the name of 
Aguila negra, the Black Eagle. 
Amid the sierras, the Golden Eagle, which also looks dark when 
on the wing, is known by this name, whilst in the regions where 
both species are found, the addition of de dos ardoles (of the trees) and 
of de las rocas well describes their normal habits, whilst now and 
again I have met country folk who were sufficiently acquainted with 
both birds to describe them as Agurla imperial and Agutla real. 
As a naturalist it has often struck me how every nation is 
addicted to dubbing birds and animals red, black, or white, irrespec- 
tive of their actual coloration. No doubt such descriptions are 
derived from mere heraldic expressions which are paralleled in 
our language by the Red, White, or Black Lions of our hostelries. 
