A GOLDEN EAGLE. 23 



through at intervals and the day promised well, but 

 a slight touch of frost at dawn had chilled the air. The 

 old Eagle was sheltering her young, and I crept quietly 

 into my hiding-place without disturbing her. Her 

 beak was bloody, and the youngster, evidently gorged, 

 was lying below her breast in a lethargic attitude. 

 Beside her was the clean-picked skeleton of a grouse, 

 and the hindquarters of a rabbit, only partially plucked 

 and recently killed, had been deposited on the ledge, in 

 all probability by the cock bird this very morning. 

 Attempting to arrange the camera for a picture without 

 disturbing her I unfortunately moved a small stone, and 

 though the noise was of the slightest, she took alarm 

 and flew away. The Eaglet, not the least annoyed by 

 her departure, still dozed peacefully, and I afterwards 

 ascertained that this was his invariable custom after his 

 early meal at daybreak. 



At 10.12 a.m. the Eagle alighted on the ledge beyond 

 the nest, and the Eaglet, now thoroughly awake, cried 

 incessantly, while she stood glaring at my hiding-place. 

 She was evidently a little suspicious, and I heartily 

 regretted my attempt to photograph her on my arrival, 

 but remained quiet in the hope that she would soon regain 

 confidence. At last, after what seemed an eternity, 

 she stepped slowly forward, her footsteps sounding clearly 

 through the still air, turned at right angles and bent 

 forward to inspect the Eaglet (Plate 10), in an attitude 

 which I afterwards found to be by no means uncommon 

 when she brought no prey with her. The object of 

 these periodical visits throughout the day, on the occa- 

 sions when no food was brought, seemed to be caused 

 simply by anxiety for the welfare of the young, for she 

 never stayed long at the eyrie except when feeding or 

 sheltering the Eaglet. 



Her next visit was at 1 o'clock, when she returned 

 with a grouse, headless as usual and completely denuded 

 of its feathers. This she deposited on the edge of the 



