A GOLDEN EAGLE. 



39 



had been deposited outside the eyrie since my departure 

 on the previous day. On the following morning, finding 

 him again in the nest, the barrier was altered and a few 

 stones were added. This proved successful and enabled 

 me to complete my observations. It should be noted, 

 however, that at this stage it is the habit of the young 

 Eagles to walk about the ledges near the eyrie, when 

 their surroundings permit of it, during the middle hours 

 of the day, returning to the nest at night. 



At 9.20 the Eaglet's mother brought him a grouse, 

 and out of curiosity I timed him while he devoured it. 

 The meal lasted exactly twenty minutes, the breast 

 bone only being left, claws and legs following the flesh 

 down his capacious throat. After about an hour's 

 sleep the Eaglet again went through his flapping exercises, 

 and then, his work being over, played for some time like 

 a child. 



At 1145 the female returned with the hindquarters 

 of a large hare, one leg of which the Eaglet deliberately 

 swallowed with much relish, and after this had been 

 successfully accomplished he lay down as if to sleep, 

 though his restless eye, searching the air around at 

 intervals, belied his lethargic attitude. 



At 3.5 his mother appeared again and brought him 

 another grouse, this time obviously an old one. In 

 the photograph (Plate 24) we see him in the character- 

 istic attitude assumed while pecking at the prey, which, 

 though out of sight in the picture, she held in her foot. 

 The Eaglet then indulged in another huge meal, and 

 retired to the shelter of the ledge for a rest. He was 

 aroused from his slumbers in the evening at 5.30 by her 

 again, and the two Eagles, mother and son (Plate 25), 

 stood side by side on the edge of the abyss, the youngster 

 being now almost fully fledged and nearly as big as his 

 parents. His movements, however, were still clumsy and 

 his appearance somewhat spoilt by the constant rains. 

 After some minutes, during which the birds sat in a 



