58 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



as it were, from the clouds. On looking in the 

 direction from which it came, we soon perceived 

 a black speck, moving steadily on towards us. It 

 was a golden eagle, evidently coming from the 

 plain countries below; as he drew nearer we 

 could see that his wings scarcely ever moved ; he 

 seemed to float or sail in mid-air, rather than fly ; 

 though now and then, indeed, they slowly flapped, 

 as if to steady him. As he was approaching in a 

 direct line, we hid ourselves behind a rock, and 

 watched his motions through a telescope. When 

 first seen he could not have been at a less distance 

 than a mile ; but, in less than a minute, he was 

 within gunshot, and, after looking round once or 

 twice, he darted down his legs, slightly quivered, 

 and alighted on a rock within a few yards. For a 

 moment he gazed about with his sharp, bright 

 eyes, as if to assure himself that all was safe ; he 

 then, for a few moments more, nestled his head 

 beneath one of his expanded wings, and appeared 

 to plume himself. Having done this, he stretched 

 out his neck, and looked keenly and wistfully 

 towards the quarter of the heavens from whence he 

 came, and uttered a few rapid screams; then, 

 stamping with his feet, we saw him protrude his 

 long, hooked talons, at the same time snapping 

 his hooked beak, with a sharp jerking noise, like 

 the crack of a whip. There he remained for 



