82 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP. x. 



CHAPTER X. 



The Eagle : Habits ; Greediness ; Anecdotes of; Killing Eagles ; Trapping ; 

 Food of The Peregrine Falcon : Manner of Hunting Tame Falcon 

 Anecdotes of Guinea-Hen and Ducks The Osprey The Kite: 

 Trapping The Buzzard ; Nests and Habits of. 



I SAW an eagle to-day passing southwards, apparently on his way 

 from the mountains of Sutherland or Caithness to the moresouthern 

 heights of the Grampians. The bird was flying very near the 

 ground, making his way against the wind, and pursued by a whole 

 squadron of grey crows, who had found out that he was a stranger, 

 and taking advantage of the unconcerned contempt with which 

 he treated their attacks, kept up a continual clamour and petty 

 warfare against the royal bird. The eagle, as lie came over the 

 more enclosed part of the country, flew higher, as if suspicious 

 of concealed foes amongst the hedges and enclosures. I have 

 almost every year during my stay in Morayshire seen the eagles 

 occasionally passing, at the beginning of winter invariably going 

 southwards, and again early in the spring on their return north- 

 wards ; in windy weather flying low, but when calm, cleaving 

 the air at a great height. The eagle's flight, when passing from 

 one point to another, is peculiarly expressive of strength and 

 vigour. He wends his way with deliberate strong strokes of his 

 powerful wing, every stroke apparently driving him on a con- 

 siderable distance, and in this manner advancing through the air 

 as rapidly as the pigeon or any other bird which may appear to 

 fly much more quickly. 



Notwithstanding the facility with which he flies when once 

 fairly launched, like many other heavy birds, a very slight wound 

 disables him from rising into the air when on level ground. 

 Even after having gorged himself to excess (and there is no 

 greater glutton than this king of the air) the eagle is unable to 

 rise, and falls a victim occasionally to his want of moderation in 

 feeding 1 . When in Sutherlandshire I twice fell in with instances 



