12 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



spent the night, but during the day it was generally abroad with 

 the doctor's two boys. It would come at their call and feed 

 out of their hands, fly about their heads, and follow them where- 

 ever they went. I am not sure if ever it went alone in search of 

 prey, but nothing seemed to delight it so much as to get the boys 

 away rabbit hunting. On such occasions it would follow them 

 and hover round their heads, perform the most graceful aerial 

 evolutions, and scream with delight as if it thoroughly understood 

 and enjoyed the expedition; and when an unfortunate rabbit 

 showed itself the eagle would swoop down upon it with amazing 

 rapidity and power. The utmost confidence and attachment 

 seemed to exist between the boys and the bird, till the latter was 

 unfortunately killed by a visitor a young gentleman from Glasgow 

 who mistook it for a wild bird, and so shot it, to the great 

 vexation of the entire household, witli whom the eagle had been 

 a great favourite." Another instance of the bird's tameness was 

 lately communicated to me by my friend Mr Edward E. Alston, 

 of Glasgow. This specimen was in the possession of a lady some 

 years ago, and was full grown when she got it. " It was allowed 

 full liberty," says Mr Alston, " never attempting to escape nor to 

 injure any one, and coming when called to be fed or caressed. It 

 was particularly fond of fish, but would also eat meat." A third 

 case I have the pleasure of selecting from a mass of highly graphic 

 and interesting notes now before me, penned by one whose cor- 

 respondence has for nearly twenty years afforded me no ordinary 

 pleasure*: "My friend Mr C. M'Vean has had a tamed Sea Eagle 

 for some years, which is not kept in confinement, but sometimes 

 startles strangers by sweeping past the windows. He says, ' My 

 eagle I named " Koneval," after the hill in South Uist, where he 

 was hatched. He is a male, and a very fine bird. I have had him 

 now for four years, and he has assumed his white tail. He is 

 allowed ,to fly about at large, but is not fond of going far, and will 

 always come at the call of the kitchen maid, who feeds him, and 



* Henry D. Graham, Esq., who resided a number of years in lona, and pub- 

 lished a meritorious and beautiful work on the antiquities of that interesting 

 island. I cannot sufficiently thank my valued friend for the handsome and 

 disinterested manner in which he has placed his excellent notes on the Birds of 

 lona and Mull at my disposal. I trust these may yet appear in a separate form, 

 and this feeling will no doubt be shared by those who read the graphic selections 

 I have made use of in these pages. 



