WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 89 



together with its habitual wariness, it will probably hold its own for many 

 years to come, in spite of the price set upon its head. What scenery, for 

 instance, is more adapted to the requirements of the solitude-loving Eagle 

 than the tall bleak rocks of Storr or Tallisker ? or what is more favourable 

 to his presence than the rocks known as < Macleod's Maidens ' and the 

 cliffs round about them ? or what country so attractive as ' Macleod's 

 Tables/ round about wild Dunvegan, or the fastnesses of Genbrittle ? 

 Stray into districts such as these, far away from man's haunts and in- 

 dustries, and there it is the Sea-Eagle will come from out the mountain- 

 mists yelping fright at your intrusion, and sail proudly onward, displaying 

 his grand powers of wingmanship to your astonished and delighted gaze. 

 Like the Golden Eagle the present species will often sit for long intervals 

 silent and motionless on some tall rock -pinnacle, dreamily scanning the 

 country or the waters below. Of all birds the Eagles are certainly the 

 most difficult to approach, and rarely indeed have you the good fortune to 

 get within gunshot of them. Aided with a good glass, however, you may 

 often observe their attitudes as they sit on the pinnacles and shelves 

 basking in the sun with expanded drooping wings, after the manner of 

 Cormorants. Then see them launch heavily into the air, mounting upwards 

 in wide curving flight ; now sailing with wings fully expanded and the tips 

 of the primaries slightly recurved, they sweep along over mountain, moor- 

 land waste, and sea, advancing seemingly with but little effort, 



High o'er the watery uproar, silent seen, 

 Sailing sedate, in majesty serene. 



A right grand sight indeed it is to see a pair of Eagles so engaged in the 

 early months of spring, sailing lazily round and round in the dark blue 

 heavens, ever mounting upwards, until the eye can but just discern them 

 like minute specks moving in slow course along the sky. Or, better still, 

 see two male birds in the love-season buffeting each other in the air, 

 screaming out their peculiar yelping cries, and displaying so many singular 

 postures as each seems to try its best to gain the sky of its opponent. 

 The usual flight of the White-tailed Eagle, when passing from place to 

 place, is performed by a series of slow and regular flappings ; but its varied 

 evolutions are beyond all description when engaged in aerial combat with 

 one of its own species, or perhaps, better still, when mobbed by some 

 troublesome Hawk, Gull, or Raven, whose nest it is too near. Although 

 so large and powerful as the White-tailed Eagle is, still we have seen him 

 completely beaten off by a Peregrine, and glad to seek safety in flight. 

 Save in the nesting- season, White-tailed Eagles are for the most part 

 solitary birds? although each pair haunts the neighbourhood of their eyrie 

 the year throughout." 



The roaming disposition of the White-tailed Eagle seems almost ex- 



