206 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



the nests of moor-game can be detected by even 

 a less cunning and quick-sighted forager to say 

 nothing of their own domestic establishments 

 being often in the immediate vicinity, with a 

 hungry family crying for food it is only marvel- 

 lous how the grouse continues to survive on 

 certain unpreserved maritime tracts of Scotland 

 and Ireland. Compared with this crow, the eagle, 

 the buzzard, even the peregrine falcon herself are 

 almost innocent and at least honourable enemies ; 

 nay even the fox is harmless when measured by 

 the same standard. I speak from experience. 

 After an absence of several years I found myself, 

 during the autumn of 1848, among some of the 

 wildest mountains of Mayo. There first in early 

 boyhood I loved to gaze at the eagle as he 

 soared among the clouds, or peeped with thrilling 

 interest over the stupendous precipices peopled 

 with myriads of water-birds, whose discordant 

 cries mingled with the roar of the Atlantic. 

 There first I learned to climb the heathery hill, 

 to point the gun, or mark down the dusky pack 

 under the guidance of my Highland preceptor, 

 and enjoyed many a day's grouse shooting to say 

 nothing of hares and woodcocks that might not 

 have disgraced Caledonia herself. Well, the 

 eagle was still there ; so was my old friend the 

 peregrine ; their ancient eyries were still occupied 



