372 A SPRING WEEK IN THE WEST HIGHLANDS. 



or twice I heard the hollow rumbling, and they dashed 

 past at the distance of sixty yards ; but had I wished to 

 take this random chance, it was impossible, as I only com- 

 manded the eyrie tree* 



The intervals of their visits became longer every time. 

 During one, a pert kestrel lit upon a twig not more than 

 ten yards from the mouth of my gun. Shortly after, its 

 mate perched upon the same branch, and both began to 

 preen their wings without the slightest suspicion thaf their 

 dreaded foe was closely watching all their motions. 



At last the female eagle returned alone. She soon took her 

 departure, and we saw neither of them any more. Whether 

 the sun glancing upon my gun-barrel had scared them, or the 

 skiff upon the loch, we were unable to decide. There was 

 not above half a foot of the barrel visible, but the eagle is 

 of all birds the most wary, and nothing can elude its eye. 



When Peter felt sure the game was up, he returned to 

 release me from my watch. I consoled myself with a 

 hearty breakfast and his assurances that we should manage 

 better next year, if we were spared, by allowing the bird 

 to sit hard before disturbing her. Had this been the case 

 now, I should certainly have had a fair shot. 



I examined carefully the erne's nest. It was very deep 

 as well as round. There could not have been less than a 

 cart-load of large sticks and twigs. I had some curiosity 

 to know whether both birds built in company, or if the 

 male acted a cad" by bringing the materials while the 

 female was the architect. Swans are very gallant in this 

 particular, supplying their mates with aquatic plants and 



