12 THE HOME-LIFE OF 



us in our lair among the rocks ! The question was soon 

 answered, for again she soared majestically in from the 

 south, settled on the same spot, and then, to my delight, 

 flapped across the corrie to the nest. Here she stayed 

 for a few seconds, then retired to the other side of the 

 corrie. After another long interval of fully half an 

 hour she rose and disappeared once more towards the 

 south. I now insisted on visiting the nest to see how 

 the Eaglets were standing the cold, and found them quite 

 warm and comfortable, the nest being comparatively 

 sheltered from the wind. 



Again we retreated to our hiding place, but before 

 we reached it the stalker suddenly dropped face down- 

 wards to the earth, and I followed his example on seeing 

 the cause of his collapse. We were now on an exposed 

 top far above the nest, and directly above us were the 

 two Eagles, soaring and wheeling about thirty yards 

 over our heads. Hardly daring to breathe I nevertheless 

 managed to watch the one on my left, while my com- 

 panion was keeping his eye on its mate. For a time 

 they hung almost motionless in the sky, then, apparently 

 both coming to the conclusion that all was not safe, 

 swooped away again out of our sight. We took 

 advantage of the interval to lunch and to reach 

 our hiding place, from which, about half an 

 hour later, we saw the pair approaching at a great 

 height from the south. This time they showed no 

 hesitation, and the cock seemed to be driving his mate 

 towards the corrie, circling round her when she swerved 

 in the wrong direction, and evidently anxious for her 

 to return. They both flapped slowly up the corrie 

 and settled on the face opposite to the eyrie. After 

 a few short flights up and down the gorge, the female 

 crossed boldly and settled upon the edge of the nest. 

 At this point we lost sight of the cock, and it is probable 

 that he moved off as soon as he saw his mate return to 

 the young and while we were intently watching her 



