THE DESTRUCTION OF EAGLES 85 



mental series on the Vertebrate Fauna of Scot- 

 land, give this note as received by them from 

 Mr. Moodie-Heddle in 1888 : 



* White-tailed eagles were very common in 

 Hoy, there being at one time ten or twelve pairs 

 on the sea cliffs. He thought that they became 

 extinct through being continually robbed, the 

 old birds at last became too old to breed ; he 

 never heard of many being killed/ 



In the Argyll volumes of the above-mentioned 

 series it is stated that in 1867 the sea eagle had 

 become scarce in Mull ; while at the time of 

 writing, 1892, they were considered as being 

 extinct as a breeding species. No doubt in the 

 winter months many individuals may be seen 

 there, as in other parts of the West Highland 

 sea-coast area ; but these are, doubtless, migra- 

 tory birds, some perhaps coming from the north 

 of Europe. Such wandering eagles are met 

 with now and then even in far inland localities, 

 and not in Scotland only, but as far as the south 

 of England. This migratory habit seems to 

 afford the only hope that even yet some of the 

 ancient eyries might again be used as breeding 

 stations if only some of our larger proprietors 

 would see fit to afford them protection ; finding 

 in the grand spectacle of these noble birds suffi- 

 cient repayment for the loss of an odd grouse or 



