A GOLDEN EAGLE. 35 



from under the rock. At 9. 1 1 she brought him the hinder 

 portion of a rabbit, and he devoured this with relish, 

 though there was not enough meat on the bones to 

 satisfy his appetite. At 9.40 she dropped in again, 

 but brought no prey, and the Eaglet retired to the 

 shelter of the overhanging ledge during a terrific rain- 

 storm which now swept down the corrie. This con- 

 tinued till 1 o'clock, and at intervals during the storm 

 the Eaglet played his comical little games with pieces 

 of heather, while the dried-up blades of grass which 

 lined the nest also gave him much amusement. 



At 1.5 the cock brought a young grouse, and his 

 offspring devoured the dainty morsel — bones, legs, claws 

 and all. With the legs he had much difficulty, first 

 lifting them up in his own foot and inspecting them, 

 then swallowing them in turn with a great effort. These 

 were probably the first bones he had ever swallowed, 

 and, apparently delighted with his success, he turned 

 his attention to the rabbit's legs, but took some time 

 to consider the matter, turning a leg over and over with 

 his foot and examining it most carefully from every 

 point of view. At last, however, half-choking himself 

 in the attempt, he swallowed it whole, and stood for 

 some time gulping and struggling to get it down his 

 throat. When it was safely over he seized the other leg, 

 but apparently thought better of it and decided that 

 it was too big a mouthful. At 2.15 his mother came in 

 and looked at the remaining leg, while the Eaglet, 

 ravenously hungry, screeched for more food. She, 

 however, seemed angry with him, and picking up the 

 leg in her beak offered it to him, becoming quite annoyed 

 when he refused to take it. This scene was most amusing, 

 for it was quite plain that she thought he had no business 

 to screech for more food while this leg remained. 

 Eventually, as if to show him how to do it, she tore it 

 apart at the middle joint, devouring half of it and decamp- 

 ing with the remainder. 



