8 THE HOME-LIFE OF 



be hatched. As he seemed to think that the old birds 

 were less suspicious than usual, I determined to risk 

 a visit to the eyrie, though, knowing well that these 

 birds are more prone to desert their eggs if disturbed 

 than any of the lesser birds of prey, I was unwilling to 

 go till incubation was far advanced. The behaviour 

 of the pair, which, as my ally stated, had been circling 

 close round his head while he was standing on the ledge, 

 showed that the time of hatching would not be long 

 delayed, and on May 3rd, the last day of the only week 

 of sunshine which was vouchsafed to us in this most 

 gloomy season, I made a start at daybreak on my bicycle, 

 laden with cameras and other accessories. 



After a long ride over a rough hill-road I reached the 

 lodge and found the second stalker, to whose able assist- 

 ance I owed much of my subsequent success, ready to 

 accompany me to the eyrie. As we entered the corrie 

 a herd of deer clattered up the steep slopes above us, 

 and stood on the skyline in the bright sunshine gazing 

 at us as though well aware that at this season there was 

 a truce between man and the wild denizens of the hills. 

 I cross-examined my companion as to the possibility of 

 photographing the old Eagles, but he seemed doubtful 

 whether the attempt was likely to be successful. A sharp 

 walk of perhaps three miles brought us to our destination, 

 and from a crag on the opposite side of the corrie to 

 the eyrie we had the satisfaction of seeing the cock sail 

 over our heads, flapping slowly down the corrie before 

 gradually rising on upturned wings, until he hovered 

 almost motionless, a mere speck against the dark blue sky. 



It was a wild spot that the Eagles had chosen for 

 their home, for on both sides of the corrie the cliffs rose 

 sheer from the edge of a burn, and though now lit 

 up by the rays of the sun, the gloomy grandeur of the 

 scene could scarcely be surpassed. Scarred by the 

 countless storms which had in bygone days swept through 

 the gorge and their slopes covered by the debris which 



