84 Auioiig' the Birds in Northern Shires. 



collector or dealer from the south. The last pair of 

 Scotch Golden Eagles' eggs that we examined had 

 been forwarded unblown from the Highlands, roughly 

 packed in a tin box, and both were broken. One of 

 these eggs, we believe, is now in the Weston Park 

 Museum at Sheffield. Eagles are somewhat slug- 

 gish birds, resembling Buzzards in disposition, and 

 exhibit none of that dash and activity characteristic 

 of the Falcons, or even of the short-winged Hawks. 

 They are also very unclean feeders, being little better 

 than Vultures in this respect. Of the two the White- 

 tailed Eagle is the worst; he is a regular scavenger 

 of the shore, and in not a few cases we have known 

 him lured to his doom with a mass of stinking offal, 

 a putrid lamb, or decaying fish. Healthy vigorous 

 birds or animals are seldom attacked by this Eagle; 

 it confines its attentions to the weakly and the 

 wounded creatures that cannot move fast or offer 

 any serious resistance. The Golden Eagle is a trifle 

 more fastidious in its selection of food, and frequently 

 captures living and healthy creatures, such as Grouse 

 and hares, but even he does not refuse to make a 

 meal on carrion. When we take into consideration 

 the food and the sluggish habits of these Eagles, we 

 are at a still greater loss to understand the ruthless 

 war of extermination that has been waged against 

 them for so long. As birds of prey go they are 

 comparatively harmless, and should be left in peace. 



