THE KING OF BIRDS. 35 



brace of grouse, 2j falling to Walter's gun, and 2 to 

 mine. As we were descending a brae, I saw some dark- 

 looking object swiftly stealing over the ground beneath 

 us, which I could not distinctly make out. It soon 

 came nearer, when Donald announced it to be a golden 

 eagle. As it sailed steadily along, our vicinity seemed 

 to cause no alarm ; but at length, when within perhaps 

 100 yards, it rose rapidly in the air, wheeled majesti- 

 cally round and round as it soared higher and higher, 

 until at last, when almost lost to view, we saw it 

 joined by its mate, and then both struck off in a 

 straight line towards some mountain summits in the 

 distance. 



This was my first introduction to the king of birds 

 in his native regions ; and delighted I was to have 

 seen what will soon, I fear, be numbered among " the 

 things that were." Though in general but little more 

 destructive than many of the larger classes of hawks, 

 a war of extermination is being waged against this 

 noble bird. In many instances the reward of a guinea 

 is offered for every eagle brought dead or alive to the 

 keepers ; and this, with the large price which may be 

 obtained from the bird-stuffers for either the bird itself 

 or its eggs, proves a great incentive to all who can 

 climb a cliff or bear a gun ; from which combined 

 causes the number of these birds is fast diminishing. 

 I have said the eagle is not generally more destructive 

 than the larger hawks. This as a rule is true ; but he 

 has greater powers than they, and occasionally he 

 exerts them. In general, perched on some rocky 

 height, or soaring high in the clouds, he beholds with 

 kingly indifference the petty scenes of earth. Capable 

 of passing through the whole length and breadth of 

 the country in a few short hours, the disturbances and 



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