BIRDS OF ARRAN. 293 



persecution which was doubtless the cause of the desertion of 

 the eyries which formerly existed on Ailsa Craig and one or 

 two localities on the opposite mainland. Two eyries of this 

 eagle in Argyleshire were robbed in April 1872. Each con- 

 tained two eggs ; one pair, exhibited unblown at a meeting of 

 the Natural History Society of Glasgow shortly afterwards, 

 were large, heavy, and handsomely spotted ; the other two, 

 which were submitted to me before being blown, were equally 

 fine, though not so large. Both nests were taken in districts 

 within sight of Goatfell. 



WHITE- TAILED EAGLE (Ilaliaetus albicilla}. Though this 

 bird has suffered the same treatment as the golden eagle, it 

 appears to be better able to withstand the pains and penal- 

 ties of keepers throughout the range of its Hebridean haunts. 

 As a rule, its eyrie is more difficult of access than that of its 

 ally, and the bird itself certainly commits less mischief on 

 sheep farms and game preserves. In Arran it continued to 

 breed regularly in Catacol Glen until 1849 in which year, 

 as Mr. Alston informs me, Robert Mackay, keeper, took a 

 young bird and reared it. Sometime, during the ensuing 

 winter the ledge of rock on which the eyrie was placed gave 

 way, and the eagles probably viewing the mishap as a 

 timeous warning left the district. In the spring of 1870 a 

 pair of these birds built a nest in the same glen, and the 

 female sat for some time on two eggs, but afterwards deserted 

 them. Mr. Mackenzie, one of the Duke of Hamilton's 

 keepers, residing at Dougrie Lodge, on the west coast of 

 Arran, informs me that he saw two white-tailed eagles there 

 in November 1871. I am happy to be able to add that 

 strict orders have been given that eagles are not to be 

 destroyed in any part of the island. 



OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus). Mr. Alston has written to 

 me as follows regarding the occurrence of the osprey in 

 Arran : " This fine bird formerly bred in North Glen 

 Sannox. According to Mr. Halliday, the eyrie was robbed 

 by Dr. Martin Barry in 1846, and again in 1847. Since that 



