82 ON EAGLES. 



ON EAGLES. 



FEW sportsmen, who have been much in the wilds of 

 Scotland, have not occasionally seen an eagle ; but, ex- 

 cept at the hatching season, it is extremely difficult to 

 get a shot at one. Even then it is no easy task, for the 

 nest is often in the face of some precipice which few dare 

 to scale. 



The golden-eagle is not nearly so great a foe to the 

 farmer as to the sportsman; for although a pair, hav- 

 ing young ones, will occasionally pounce upon an un- 

 protected flock, and continue their depredations until 

 scared away, the more usual prey consists of hares, rab- 

 bits, and grouse : a fact sufficiently proved by the 

 feathers and bones found in their eyries. A pair used 

 to build every year in Balquhidder, another in Glen- 

 Ogle, and a third in Glenartney. The shepherds seldom 

 molested the old ones ; but by means of ladders, at con- 

 siderable risk, took the young and sold them. One of 

 these, brought to Callander, not long ago, when scarcely 

 full-fledged, would seize a live cat thrown to it for food, and, 

 bearing it away with the greatest ease, tear it to pieces : 

 the cat unable to offer any resistance, and uttering the 

 most horrid yells. From the havoc they made among 



