3 o THE HOME-LIFE OF 



was evident that she was hovering round. At last 

 he gained courage and, probably for the first time 

 in his life, ventured to the edge of the abyss and 

 watched her circling in the depths below (Plate 14). 

 His attitude and voice now showed that she was 

 approaching, and in a few moments she dropped in 

 again and sat for a short time on the far side of 

 the nest. She had brought no more food, and evidently 

 considered that he had eaten sufficient for the day, for 

 she removed the remains of the hare when she departed. 

 After this the Eaglet went to sleep again under 

 the ledge, and when she returned at 8.30 made 

 no movement and showed only by a faint cheeping 

 that he was aware of her presence. She flapped in 

 and out several times during the next hour, and at 

 9.30 took up her position for the night in a 

 magnificent attitude, which, with a long exposure of 

 about 10 sec. at F.8, I secured. Watching the eyrie 

 thus in the twilight (Plate 15 (a)) she presented a 

 perfect picture of a devoted mother prepared to guard 

 her young from all the perils of the coming night. 

 And always she gazed outwards as though fearing 

 danger from the far side of the corrie. 



I now decided to spend the rest of the night in my 

 hiding-place, and had fallen into a doze when a voice 

 from below drew my attention. The head stalker, 

 anxious at my protracted absence, had climbed up to 

 the eyrie and now persuaded me to return to the lodge. 

 At his appearance the Eagle had vanished, and I now 

 consented to accompany him and get a few hours sleep 

 before daybreak. 



At 2 a.m. I started off again, and reached the eyrie 

 in a thick white mist. Warned by previous experience 

 I approached with great caution, for being alone it 

 was essential that I should not be seen entering the 

 " bothy." I had now ascertained that the Eagles, on 

 seeing me go to the eyrie, did not venture to return till 



