110 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. VII. 



kinds are generally formed of sticks of an astonish- 

 ing size, frequently as large in diameter as a man's 

 arm -these, too, brought from a considerable dis- 

 tance ; sometimes it is impossible to say where they 

 can have procured them. The white-tailed eagle 

 does not hesitate, to use the coarse sea- ware and 

 tangle for her nest. They build not only in the 

 steepest possible cliff, but generally take advantage 

 of some overhanging shelf, which, concealing the 

 nest from above, makes it doubly secure ; occa- 

 sionally, however, I have known a golden eagle 

 build in a place where an expert climber could 

 reach the nest without the aid of ropes. 



The remains of game of all kinds common in the 

 mountains are found in great abundance about their 

 nests when they have young ; lambs also, and near 

 the deer-forests young red-deer, are taken up to the 

 nest. I cannot say whether they carry up the latter 

 animals whole or not, but their remains always form 

 part of the larder found at an eagle's abode, if it is 

 in a situation where deer abound. The weight of 

 a newly-born red-deer calf is not great, and, once in 

 the air, the eagle would carry one easily enough. 

 Instances have occurred of an eagle attacking a 

 person when engaged in robbing her nest, but, 

 generally speaking, they have a proper dread of 

 man and fire-arms. Nevertheless I have known 



