36 THE HOME-LIFE OF 



Six minutes later she returned and offered the in- 

 furiated youngster a bunch of heather (Plate 19), which 

 she deposited beside him. She then brought a large 

 bunch of coarse grass, which was likewise laid upon the 

 ledge. The Eaglet was still crying for food, and it 

 almost seemed as if, having failed in her hunting, she 

 was trying to appease him with offerings of heather and 

 grass. Probably, however, her real object was to rebuild 

 the nest, which had now become quite flat from the 

 continual trampling of the bird's feet. The Eaglet at 

 this stage closely resembled the surroundings of the nest, 

 which was now sprinkled with feathers, down and 

 droppings. 



In torrents of rain I reached the eyrie again on the 

 7th of July. At the nest were only the remains of a 

 rabbit, partially devoured. Hoping against hope that the 

 storm might pass, I waited in my hiding-place, though 

 now almost soaked to the skin. At 10.30 the Eaglet, 

 which had hitherto been sleeping in the shelter of the 

 ledge, looked up and began to call loudly. His mother, 

 dripping and bedraggled, dropped in suddenly and left 

 a grouse in the eyrie, but the Eaglet, which had rushed 

 eagerly to meet her, was afraid of the downpour, and 

 crouched down again under the ledge. The wind 

 soughed down the corrie and the mist settled upon 

 the eyrie, while below me the burn roared in spate. 

 Between 2 and 3 o'clock the cock brought another 

 grouse, and the female appeared shortly afterwards with 

 a third. At that appearance the Eaglet only raised 

 his head and cheeped in a low tone, as though he knew 

 well that the storm had not come to an end. 



A heavy mist clung to the rocks around the eyrie at 

 daybreak on the following morning, and a fine drizzle 

 set in later. At 5.30 a.m. the female brought in a 

 grouse, and the Eaglet rushed to her feet (Plate 20), 

 throwing himself down in the attitude shown in the 

 photograph, pecking vigorously at the carcase. This was 



