150 COUNTRY ESSAYS. 



with him : " Eagles ? Yes, there are golden eagles now, a 

 pair of them on Quinaig in front, but they are not often seen on 

 this side. Sometimes, however, they sweep overhead at a great 

 height in circling eddies, and, of course, they are on the look- 

 out for a dead sheep or weakly lamb. The blue (or alpine) 

 hare is also a favourite dish ; their persecution has developed 

 in this hare a need of a den for retreat, which ordinary hares 

 never think of. Thus they seize upon any hole or cranny in 

 the rocks around us, and, when attracted, flee into it, when 

 they are at once safe. I have seen a golden eagle blockade 

 one, so eager was it, but the hare would not venture into the open 

 until the eagle somewhat reluctantly took wing. Eagles abound- 

 ed much more even in 1846 when I came here as keeper. At 

 that time it was possible to see nine in the air at once. I shot 

 three in one day, and no less than sixteen in three weeks. 

 Now eagles and peregrine falcons are strictly preserved by the 

 Duke. The favourite prey of the peregrine is the grouse, and 

 the opinion has prevailed that by striking down the last and 

 therefore the weakest of the covey, the bird was assisting 

 nature in exterminating or reducing to very small proportions 

 the grouse disease. My district ? It is twenty-two miles long 

 and some fifty miles in circumference. It was swarming with 

 vermin when I first came. But blood-money was promised us, 

 and the scheme was but too fatal. For every eagle we shot or 

 trapped i was allowed; for every dog-fox, ios., but for the 

 vixen, 2 ; every cub (till August 1 2, when they were supposed 

 to have become adult foxes), ios. ; hawks, buzzards, &c., 

 brought in is. each. The grey or scaul crow was worth is., 

 but the raven 25. 6d. Have kept tame eagles, which would sit 

 on my arm, but would never let me see them feed, as they 

 would spread their wings and turn round as often as I sought 

 to see what and how they eat. They could not bear dogs or 

 strangers, and often attacked them. I came in for their anger 

 at times, and had to kick them off in self-defence. Finally, 



