COLOUR AND SIZE 87 



formed me that the eagle built every year in 

 Catichol Glen in Arran up to 1847. ^ n ^ at 

 winter the ledge of rock in which the eyrie was 

 built fell down, and the eagle never returned. 

 No eagle bred in Arran till 1870, when a pair 

 built in the island, but deserted their eggs with- 

 out hatching.' 



These birds vary much in colour and size, the 

 head and neck apparently becoming lighter with 

 age. About 1879 a female, which had been 

 committing great havoc among the lambs at 

 Eigg, was, according to Harvie-Brown, ' reluc- 

 tantly shot.' It was of a most beautiful silvery 

 grey colour all over Gray, who saw it, appears 

 to have only once before seen a similar speci- 

 men ; but albinoes have once or twice been 

 recorded. The extreme spread of wings varies 

 in individuals from six feet to more than seven 

 feet six inches which latter width is about the 

 average. 



There are various tales and traditions, in this 

 as in other countries, of children having been 

 carried off by these powerful birds ; but with 

 what truth it is difficult to say. Here is an 

 example from a MS. written in 1664 by one 

 Matthew Mackaile, apothecary in Aberdeen, as 

 to an alleged instance in Orkney. ' I was very 

 well informed that an eagle did take up a 



