THE EAGLE. 135 



tlioir nests among the loose sticks forming the base 

 of the Eagle's nest, apparently neither dreading, nor 

 inconvenienced by the bird of prey, which rears its 

 young above them'". 



However cunning and sagacious we have seen 

 them to be in their modes of providing for their own 

 wants, and entrapping other birds and animals, they 

 are occasionally overreached by well-contrived plans, 

 and at times have been made prisoners by animals 

 not surpassing them in size or power. Thus, about 

 ten years ago, as a gentleman's groom in Nottingham- 

 shire, was early one morning exercising his master's 

 horses, a terrier dog which accompanied him put up 

 from a bush a fine Eagle, measuring from tip to tip 

 of his wings nearly eight feet. It flew slowly over 

 the hedge into a neighbouring field, pursued by the 

 dog, who came up with and attacked it before it 

 could fairly rise; a sharp contest took place, during 

 which the dog was severely bitten, but gallantly 

 persevered in maintaining his hold; when at length, 

 with the assistance of the groom, and a person acci- 

 dentally passing by, the bird was finally secured. It 

 is not improbable that the Eagle had, during the 

 night, been gorging itself with food, after which, 

 birds of prey usually become lazy and dull, and un- 

 willing to fly, unless roused. Aware of this, in Scot- 

 land, the people adopt a mode of catching them, 

 which is attended with general success; or at least was 

 in former times, when the country was less inhabited, 

 and Eagles more abundant t. 



Four walls are raised to the extent and height of 



* King's Narrative, vol. ii., p. 217, 

 -\ Statistical Account, vol. xxi. 



