56 THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 



and almost extirpated by the rifled tubes of man. Each rocky 

 craig and eulah will soon be an empty throne. The white-tailed 

 sea eagle will likely be the last to disappear from our sea-girt 



isles — 



" More pity that the eagle should be mew'd 

 While kites and buzzards prey at liberty ;" 



an apt expression, which Shakespeare makes Hastings say to the 

 bloody-minded human kite, Glo'ster, who had got his brother 

 Clarence immured in prison. Although well adapted for the 

 purpose, his strong hooked bill is seldom used to kill, his sharp 

 talons being sufficient to pierce the heart or brain and steal 

 away the life. Yet a better pair of natural scissors or forceps 

 than his two mandibles for cutting, skinning, or plucking, 

 cannot be found. His eye also, like his talons, beak, and wings, 

 is of the highest state of perfection. When almost lost to sight 

 in the air he can detect a grouse amongst the heather, and 

 swoop down from the vast height like a thunderbolt and squeeze 

 it to death without the chance of escape ; and, just before 

 touching the earth in his headlong plunge, has the wonderful 

 power of arresting his fall at the proper moment, saving himself 

 by his outstretched wings and tail. It is when soaring at a great 

 altitude that he searches for his prey — a proof that scent with 

 him has no part in the selection, whatever it may have with the 

 vulture ; but they often fly low over the surface, just as buzzards, 

 harriers, and sparrow-hawks do. Their prey consists of fawns, 

 lambs, hares, rabbits, black and red grouse, ptarmigans, curlews, 

 plovers, &c. ; but barnyard fowls, pigs, and even young children 

 have been carried off by this ruthless and indiscriminate 

 plunderer. A proof that 



"Dangers, eagle-pinion'd, bold, 

 Soar around each cliffy hold ; 

 While cheerful peace, with linnet song, 

 Chants the loAvly dells among." 



A shepherd in the Hebrides saw two golden eagles attack a 

 full-sized doe so fiercely, in the winter time, that had he not 

 interfered they would have killed her, and, to corroborate this, 

 the Jedburgh Advertiser, of date 13th December 1884, states — 



" A few days ago a singular struggle was witnessed on the lower portion 

 of Corrie-Mor, at a short distance from Glassburn House, between a large 

 and powerful eagle and a finely antlered stag. The king of birds was 

 watched for some time hovering above a herd of deer, which seemed to have 



E articular attractions for him. The noble bird was slowly descending, as 

 e majestically sailed around in his serial circles, getting by degrees nearer 

 to his coveted quarry. At last, reaching striking distance, he suddenly 

 came to a halt in mid-air, and, poising himself on outspread wings, he 



