NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Robbing the nests. 



butecl to the voracious appetite of his caterer, 

 and who could not be prevented from first tast- 

 ing what he had prepared. This, instead of 

 allaying, rather excited his curiosity, which the 

 officer observing, he satisfied by explaining him- 

 self in this manner: "These mountainous parts 

 of the kingdom are much frequented by eagles, 

 who build their nests in the cavities of the neigh- 

 bouring rocks; these are sought after by the 

 shepherds, who, having discovered one, erect 

 a little hut at the foot of the rock, to screen 

 themselves from these dangerous birds, which 

 are particularly furious when they have young 

 ones to supply with provisions ; in this employ 

 the male is sedulously engaged for the space of 

 three months and the female continues it until 

 the young bird is capable of quitting the nest: 

 when that period arrives they force him to spring 

 up in the air, where they support him with their 

 wings and talons, whenever he is in danger of 

 falling. While the young eagle continues in the 

 nest, the parents ravage all the neighbouring 

 country, and seize every kind of poultry, phea- 

 sants, partridges, hares, or kids, which come in 

 their way, and all of which they bear to their 

 young. 



tc The shepherds being thus properly situated 

 watch the approach of the parent birds with their 

 food, who merely stay to deposit their cargo, and 

 the moment they have left the nest the shepherds 

 mount the rocks and take away what the eagle? 

 6 



