THE GOLDEN-EAGLE 85 



By the end of the month the youngster had acquired strength 

 enough to strive to crawl towards his parent returning with food ; 

 as yet, however, his will was greater than his strength. A rabbit 

 brought by the mother was torn up in the nest. She was evidently 

 hungry, for she devoured the intestines ravenously, and picking out 

 tit-bits of liver gave them to her squealing youngster. Having done 

 this, she seized the rest of the carcass and disappeared with it into 

 the whirling snow which was now sweeping down the gorge. It now 

 became apparent that the youngster was fed at this stage of his career 

 twice daily, at daybreak, and about five P.M., and indifferently on 

 rabbits, hares, and grouse. He was now keen-sighted and alert enough 

 to descry his mother when still afar off returning with food, greeting 

 her with squeaking notes. But it is to be noticed her visits were not 

 restricted to feeding time : she returned at intervals during the day 

 to see that all was well. 



At this stage, at any rate, all grouse brought to the nest are 

 plucked and headless, and these preparations are made at a given 

 spot which is used as a larder, distant from the nest ; and similarly, 

 all hares and rabbits are first deprived of their fur. Not until 

 the downy stage is passed it seems is unplucked prey brought 

 to the young; and we may take it that till the youngster is some 

 weeks old the stomach is incapable of forming pellets contain- 

 ing such indigestible remains. Another point is also brought out at 

 this stage to wit, that during the first two months the nest is kept 

 scrupulously clean, all refuse being cleared away as it accumulates, 

 and deposited in " middens " at some distance off, not scattered 

 broadcast. 



More food having become necessary now, the cock bore his 

 share in collecting it. One afternoon Mr. Macpherson had the good 

 luck to see him arrive at the nest bearing a grouse. Standing 

 with both feet upon his victim, he suddenly, with a terrific sweep of his 

 powerful foot, ripped the bird open from breast to tail, and then took 

 his departure, leaving his mate to break up the carcass on her return. 



