UP THE MOUNTAINS. 179 



districts where the wilderness is still unchanged 

 and man's persecution is not so persistent. Well 

 may the naturalist mourn the changed conditions 

 of his country that have banished such splendid 

 birds to haunts inaccessible to all but the most 

 persevering observer ; well may he recall with 

 regret the days not so very long ago, when these 

 interesting species dwelt in closer proximity to 

 man. Now he must seek them among the 

 mountains, the thinly peopled northern heights, 

 for they alone present conditions under which 

 these big birds can dwell in our islands at all. 

 Here the GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chryscetus) still w ^ 

 lingers amongst us ; here the WHITE-TAILED Scotland 



T- S / TT 7- , 77- -77 \ r ii and Ireland. 



rLAGLE \Haliaetus aloicula), m spite of all attempts 

 to exterminate him, stills dwells and flourishes in 

 the present year of grace (1891). It is well, 

 perhaps, to specify the exact date, for who knows 

 but in the near future it may be recalled with 

 melancholy interest, when these handsome birds 

 shall have passed from our resident fauna for 

 ever ! Of all wild birds these Eagles are the 

 wildest fitting ornaments to scenes of savage 

 beauty, where the rocks and cloud-capped peaks, 

 the clear sparkling lochs and streams, the heather, 

 and the mosses and lichens assist in making 

 .a picture of sublime harmonious grandeur, com- 

 plete in every detail of colour and of form. I 

 know of nothing more grand than the sight of 

 a Golden Eagle sweeping across the gloom- 

 decked valleys on wide-spread wings, just before 

 the mountain storm descends in sudden fury. 

 All is abnormally still and uncanny ; the distant 

 mountains to windward are already draped in 



N 2 



