GREY CROWS EAGLE. 289 



green herbage, and had evidently sunk to their knees at 

 every step which they made in the soft ground. Two snipes 

 also rose while we were picking up our ducks. 



As we ascended higher the river grew more rapid, and 

 was the only object in our view which was not perfectly 

 white. Having finished our frugal luncheon, and swallowed 

 a modicum of whisky, we again "took the road," as Donald 

 was pleased to express it, although road there was none. 



The grouse had entirely disappeared, and we saw no living 

 creature except a pair of grey crows, who alighted under the 

 bank of the the river. " There will be more of these fellows 

 there," said I. " Deed ay, sir ! do you mind those that we 

 saw at first starting ? they all came up this gate, arid we've 

 seen none of them. I'd like weel to get a good shot at 

 them." We therefore went quietly on to the place, the 

 crows being quite concealed from us by the bank. On look- 

 ing over it cautiously, there they were, indeed, a whole flock 

 of those most mischievous of all vermin. "Now then, 

 Donald, take care, and kill all you can," said I. " Deed ay," 

 was his answer, with a quiet chuckle. The next moment 

 our four charges of shot were driving through the midst of 

 the crows, and such a family shot at these cunning birds was 

 not often made, as we killed or maimed no less than seven. 

 But the next instant, to our mortification, a magnificent white- 

 tailed eagle rose not twenty yards from us, out of the bed of 

 the river, where he had been feeding on another drowned sheep 

 which had grounded there. He was so gorged that he could 

 scarcely get clear of the banks. After a few wheels, how- 

 ever, he got well launched, and was soon wending his way 

 towards the cliffs of the mountain ahead of us. Donald 

 almost wept with vexation, but for my own part I did not 

 regret the escape of the noble bird so much. 



Turning round a bend of the river, we came within sight 

 of our resting place for the night, but it was still a long 

 distance off. On the left, rising with a clear outline in the 

 bright sky, was the lofty mountain where we intended to try 

 for ptarmigan. The snow however looked so deep on it that 

 we began to think we might as well have stopped at home. 

 But I was very anxious to get a few birds in their pure 

 winter plumage, and determined not to give in, if any chance 

 of success offered itself. As we approached nearer to the 

 shepherd's hut, the hill-sides, which were covered with fine 

 old weeping-birch, presented a most beautiful appearance; 



