WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 205 



watching a most enticing little pool, which, from the 

 colour of the water at the upper end, had the appear- 

 ance of great depth, but gradually became more 

 and more shallow towards its exit, till not more 

 than a few inches covered the clear pebbly channel it 

 flowed over in pursuing its downward course. This 

 spot was just of that size that the fly-fisherman 

 could, with ordinary length of line, cover its every 

 corner ; and fortunate would have been the disciple 

 of the gentle art who got such a chance, for every 

 second the dark tortoise-shell-coloured back, or the 

 many brilliant-hued flanks of a trout, would break 

 the surface-water by the precipitous splash it made 

 to secure its insect prey. Canny Scotland, with its 

 purple moors and mountains, its babbling brooks and 

 rocky crags, rose in my memory, and asked not to 

 be remembered less because the rival country in 

 which I was then travelling was quite as lovely to 

 gaze on. But I have neglected to mention an addi- 

 tion to the attraction of the scene a large white- 

 headed eagle (H. leucocephalus) fitting emblem of 

 the great republic which hovered aloft as if guard- 

 ing this demesne from all intruders. When a lazy 

 half-hour had rapidly passed, I turned to the right- 

 about to pick up my load of venison before proceed- 

 ing to camp. On gaining the ridge that overlooked 

 the spot where the game lay, I was surprised to see 

 a bear, evidently intent in burying the slain deer. 

 Bruin's manner was exactly that of a domestic cat. 

 He did his work gingerly and superficially, occa- 



