A GOLDEN EAGLE. 31 



somebody walked away, thus allaying their suspicions. 

 Fortunately they are unable to count, and it is said that the 

 only birds which possess this power are the Hooded Crows. 



Once safely ensconced in my hiding-place it was an 

 easy matter to close up the opening with heather from 

 inside, and in the grey mist of dawn I sat down to wait 

 for the Eagles' return. The Eaglet was still asleep, and 

 there was no sign of his parents. At 5.20 his mother 

 appeared and stood on the far side of the eyrie gazing 

 at her sleeping offspring. Between 6 and 7 o'clock 

 she paid three visits, on each occasion removing refuse 

 from the nest. Then slowly the mist cleared, and the 

 sun lit up the eyrie with unaccustomed brilliance. The 

 Eaglet, as though aroused by its welcome rays, lifted his 

 head and gazed upwards. Again she settled beside him, 

 and the sleepy youngster emerged from under the rock 

 (Plate 16). She had brought him a grouse for breakfast, 

 and now, after tearing it open, she devoured the entrails, 

 and, leaving the rest of it with him, she flew away. 



At 2.5 p.m. she dropped in again, and this time brought 

 him a young hare, for once in a way unplucked. This 

 she deposited and departed. Immediately afterwards the 

 cock settled on the far edge of the nest with a ptarmigan 

 in his grip, and, as though she realized that she had 

 omitted an important duty, his mate again appeared 

 and began to pluck the hare. The speed with which 

 this was accomplished was almost incredible, and in a 

 few minutes the carcase was ready for the Eaglet. The 

 cock now departed, and almost at the same moment 

 she followed his example. The Eaglet had meanwhile 

 been very excited, running from one parent to the other, 

 uncertain from which to expect food. He now attempted 

 to open the carcase of the leveret for himself, but his futile 

 efforts to accomplish this evidently attracted his mother's 

 attention, for she returned again and fed him with 

 the ptarmigan, as usual " wolfing " the entrails herself. 

 I saw nothing more of her till dusk, when she dropped 



