BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 17 



valleys. Once I saw a flock of birds flying very 

 rapidly and at a great height. I thought they 

 were some migratory birds on the wing, but it 

 turned out they were Grouse attempting to 

 escape from a Golden Eagle. 



One of the most remarkable characteristics of 

 this noble bird of prey is its ability to soar 

 for long periods without any apparent motion 

 of the wings, and I have seen them flying against 

 a very strong wind with their wings almost motion- 

 less all the time. On a calm day the Eagle is un- 

 able to soar with the same grace as during windy 

 weather, as there is not enough wind to support 

 it easily. The Golden Eagle usually flies at a 

 great altitude, and only recently I watched a 

 hen bird at such a height that she was actually 

 above the clouds, so that when a cloud came 

 over she was hidden from sight, reappearing after 

 it had passed. 



In winter time the Eagles are sometimes hard 

 pressed for food, and wander for long distances. 

 They then run the risk of being caught in 

 traps set for vermin on some Grouse moor, but 

 the keepers usually set the bird at liberty if 

 it is not too much injured by the trap. It is 

 a strange fact that when the Golden Eagle is 

 pursued by any small bird the Missel-Thrush, for 

 instance it never turns upon its pursuer, although 

 it could kill the smaller bird with the greatest of 

 ease. In nature it seems to be the invariable rule 

 that the pursued flies from the pursuer, no matter 

 what their relative sizes may be. 



It is pleasant to be able to record a slight 

 increase of the Golden Eagle in some favoured 

 localities, and I hope that with the continued 



