A GOLDEN EAGLE. 37 



invariably his custom when very hungry, and it will 

 be seen that his wings are slightly spread to cover 

 the prey. Although he was alone in the eyrie, it was 

 obviously his object to keep the prey to himself, and the 

 inherited instinct to prevent his brothers or sisters from 

 securing the coveted morsel shows its influence on his 

 attitude. She then retired and left him to enjoy his 

 meal, but the cock brought him half a young rabbit 

 about an hour later. The Eaglet, his crop being full, 

 stood for a short time gorged and sated with food. He 

 then decided to go for a walk, and, with somewhat 

 uncertain footsteps, waddled slowly down the far side 

 of the nest and disappeared from my sight. Wonder- 

 ing what the parents would think of this proceeding, 

 I sat awhile longer in my hiding-place, and at 1.50 was 

 rewarded by the sight of his mother hovering above 

 the nest. She settled on the ledge and looked around 

 her in surprise, wondering what had become of her 

 offspring (Plate 21). The eyrie was empty, the young 

 Eagle had gone — whither ? 



She stood there for some time listening, uncertain 

 how to act, with a young grouse held in her foot, listening 

 for the sound of the voice of her truant child. She 

 heard him at length, cheeping from the ledge beyond 

 the nest, where I could now see him standing upright, 

 calling lustily with all his might. In a moment she 

 had vanished, bearing with her the prey, and I saw her 

 settle again beside the Eaglet, but out of reach of the 

 camera. Once more she flew away, and as dusk came on 

 a heavy shower of rain drove the Eaglet back to the nest. 



My next visit, on the 9th, was chiefly marked by the 

 fact that the Eaglet was now practising using his wings, 

 and, standing erect with his legs well apart, flapped 

 vigorously and continuously for some seconds on end 

 several times during the day. This exercise is evidently 

 the means by which strength is gained in the wings and 

 legs, the muscles of the latter being strengthened by 



