112 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. VII. 



dogs, and sitting up on her hind legs in full view of 

 them ; in this manner not only tainting the ground 

 with her scent, but, as it were, challenging the dogs 

 to a trial of speed. Notwithstanding the good 

 training one would suppose these inhabitants of the 

 mountain ought to be in, they are easily run down, 

 even by a quick colley dog. I know of some grouse- 

 shootings where these hares have increased to such 

 an extent, owing to the destruction of vermin, that 

 they have been killed by hundreds in a day, and 

 are shot down at all seasons as a nuisance. A few 

 eagles on such ground would be of great service. 



When mountain hares are not to be had by the 

 eagles, they feed more on carrion, such as dead 

 sheep, than birds, a good-sized dead animal of this 

 kind being far more suited to the ravenous appetite 

 of a golden eagle than a small bird like a grouse ; 

 and in the sheep districts there must be a constant 

 supply, owing to accidents and disease. 



In the month of May I saw the nest of an osprey 

 on the very summit of the old castle built on a point 

 of land (sometimes an island) in Loch Assynt. The 

 nest was then tenantless, and had been so for two 

 or three years. On my return in June, I was much 

 pleased at seeing one osprey on the nest and another 

 sailing over the loch. 



Though the osprey is, generally speaking, so very 



