Robbers of the Air 



nest after feeding, when several hares, disturbed by a 

 wandering shepherd, came louping over a ridge and 

 right over the ground where I had my bird under 

 observation. Their actions filled the greenshank with 

 suspicion. She rose, flew round and round for a while, 

 and, alighting again in a hollow I could not command 

 with my glasses, eluded me altogether. 



The golden eagle preys upon grouse, ptarmigan, 

 hares, rabbits, fawns, and lambs, and is said to be par- 

 ticularly fond of cats, which it seizes in its powerful 

 talons by the neck and loins and speedily slays. The 

 last pair of eagles that bred on Ben Lee, in North Uist, 

 played havoc amongst the crofters' cats on the island. 

 Alas ! the noble birds have long since vanished and the 

 descendants of the feline survivors now enjoy too free a 

 hand. I have more than once had a long and warmly 

 cherished ornithological plan entirely upset in the Outer 

 Hebrides by the unwelcome attentions of bloodthirsty 

 felines that had taken to a feral life. 



The golden eagle is partial to carrion of almost any 

 description, and will occasionally gorge itself to such an 

 extent upon the remains of a dead sheep that it is 

 unable to rise from the ground until the heavy meal 

 has been partially digested. This fatal propensity has 

 led to the ignominious death of many a fine speci- 

 men caught within the jaws of a well-concealed steel 

 trap. 



A hungry member of this species has been known to 

 catch and carry off a wounded grouse in full view of a 

 party of sportsmen, and on one occasion at least to rob 



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