GOLDEN EAGLE. 13 



it takes up its quarters in some mountainous district, but 

 the locality chosen is often remarkably accessible, and occa- 

 sionally even on the ground. The nest usually consists of 

 a platform of sticks, upon which is laid freshly-gathered 

 heather, and sometimes large sprigs of fir-boughs. The 

 lining is composed of fern, grass, moss, or any convenient 

 material, but principally, and almost invariably, of tufts of 

 Luzula sylvatica. The nest is repaired every year, so that 

 an old structure is frequently of very large size, and while it 

 appears loose, is yet so firm as scarcely to yield to the weight 

 of a man. Instances are known, however, in Scotland, of 

 the nest being placed in a tree. One of these has been 

 examined by that excellent observer, Mr. A. E. Knox, who 

 kindly showed some drawings of it to the Editor. Another 

 has been described in ' The Ibis,' by Captain Powlett-Orde, 

 and this contained four eggs : an unusual number for this 

 bird to lay. 



The Golden Eagle breeds early in the year, often with 

 the country under deep snow. The hen sits very close, but 

 when disturbed flies off in alarm, and seldom reappears until 

 her enemies have retired. The eggs are generally two in 

 number, but three are not unfrequently found. They are 

 laid at intervals of a few days, and are hatched in the same 

 order. In size and shape they do not vary so much as do 

 those of some other birds, but they are subject to great dif- 

 ference in colour, ranging in this respect from a pure, spotless 

 white to the richly- dyed carnations of a pair figured by Mr. 

 Hewitson, in the third edition of his ' Illustrations,' well- 

 marked examples being rather the rule than the exception. 

 The colour of the mottling is commonly some shade of red, 

 but eggs are not unfrequently found where it is of a purplish- 

 brown, while spots of delicate lilac are seen underlying the 

 darker blotches and streaks. They measure from 3*23 to 

 2-72 by 2-55 to 2-11 in. 



The eggs are hatched in Scotland about the end of April, 

 and the young are at first covered with snow-white down, 

 which gives place to the dark-coloured nestling plumage. 

 The bird described from the Derbyshire nest by Willughby 



