126 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



Strong, and had sufficient length to allow his being lowered 

 rapidly, or he would have undoubtedly sustained some 

 bodily injury from the wings and talons of those enraged 

 and savage birds. The following interesting anecdote 

 is well authenticated : '' Two eagles, in the wildest 

 part of a neighbouring county, had for some time depre- 

 dated on the neighbourhood, and bore away lambs, 

 kids, &c., for the sustenance of their young. Some 

 peasants determined, if possible, to obtain the young 

 birds ; and ascended the mountains, but found that the 

 nest was in a part of the perpendicular rock, near one 

 hundred feet below the summit, and about three hundred 

 above the sea, which, with terrific appearances, dashed 

 against its base. They had provided themselves with 

 ropes, and a lad, armed with a cimetar, was by this 

 means lowered by the rest. He arrived in safety at the 

 nest, where, as he expected, he was attacked with infinite 

 fury by one of the old eagles, at which he made a stroke 

 with his sword, that nearly cut asunder the rope by which 

 he was suspended. Fortunately, one strand of it 

 remained. He described his state to his comrades, 

 waiting in horrible expectation that the division of the 

 cord would precipitate him to the bottom ; but though 

 he might have been to die by a rope, it was not in this 

 manner. He was cautiously and safely hauled up ; 

 when it was found that his hair, which a quarter of an 

 hour before had been of a dark auburn, had in that short 

 period, become perfectly white." 



The village of Dugurth suflFers heavily from its unfor- 

 tunate proximity to the aerie. When the wind blows 

 from a favourable point, the eagle, in the grey of morning, 

 sweeps through the cabins, and never fails in carrying 

 off some prey. 



