27 o THE EAGLE IN ENGLAND 



Even when half-tamed and provided with food, the 

 sea-eagle does not lose its predatory habits. A full- 

 grown young bird, which had met with some injury, 

 was kept for some weeks and fed by the gardener at an 

 old castle in the West, which has been the home of the 

 chiefs of a highland clan for perhaps as long as the cliff 

 of which it forms almost a part has been the eyrie of 

 the sea-eagles. When cured and released, it returned 

 to be fed, and in time grew so familiar as to enter the 

 house. The dining-room, as in many ancient Scotch 

 houses, was at the top of the castle, with several windows 

 looking out over the Atlantic. Breakfast was laid, and 

 many of the guests were in the room, when an open 

 window was suddenly darkened as the eagle flew in from 

 the sea, and, folding its wings, alighted on the sill. It 

 then flapped on to the table, and after looking at the 

 guests standing in the room, it made its way down the 

 table, and swallowed the butter, which was set for use 

 at intervals down the board. For two years the eagle 

 lived about the castle ; but its visits to the farmyards 

 were not less frequent, and though " indemnity " for 

 these outrages was freely paid, it is to be feared that 

 the eagle's disappearance was due to a reprisal from an 

 injured flock-owner. There is, however, good reason 

 to believe that the golden eagle, which at one time 

 seemed destined to extermination, is rapidly increasing 

 in numbers. By a fortunate chance, its powers of 

 destruction, which incurred the revenge of the shep- 

 herds and grouse-preservers, are of certain service to 

 the deer-stalker by keeping down the numbers of 



