THE EYRIE. 143 



whom, however, appeared on that occasion, al- 

 though repeatedly summoned by the loud screams 

 of the younger birds. 



For several years the golden eagle has estab- 

 lished its eyrie on a Scotch fir in this forest. A 

 stout bough, with strong lateral branches, is 

 selected in the first instance, and the nest, such 

 as I have described, constructed on the platform. 

 In the following spring the fabric, even when 

 apparently uninjured by the winter storms, is 

 added to, or "put out" as the foresters call it. 

 The same process is repeated annually, until at 

 length the overburdened bough gives way and 

 snaps off, carrying with it to the ground the 

 accumulated mass of sticks, brushwood, and 

 heather, and next year a new tree is chosen for 

 the eyrie, sometimes at a great distance from that 

 which had been previously occupied. 



I may here mention, en passant, that while at 

 Braemar I had the first, and only opportunity 

 during my life, of seeing the goshawk Astur 

 palumbarius in a state of nature. A female of 

 this species, in adult plumage, passed quite close 

 to me, on two occasions, while returning in the 

 evening from deer-stalking, near the top of 

 Glenderry. The short wings, long tail, and trans- 

 versely barred breast were of course conspicuous, 



