372 FIGHT BETWEEN TWO EAGLES 



rough enough in the best feeding parts, and many a 

 fine beast from Kintail found himself as safe there as 

 in any sanctuary. I have watched the herds there in 

 hundreds, for hours, the best stags being safely guarded 

 by their hinds and the younger stags, without being 

 able to move, and if but a bird or a hare startled them, 

 they were off, and it was impossible to crawl within 

 range of them. I once got within 500 yards of the 

 big Wapiti-headed stag, but I never got nearer, and 

 had only the satisfaction of surveying his magnificent 

 beam through my glass. I hear that Mr. A. Merry, 

 of Belladrum, has shot just such a head in Strathconnon. 

 I sincerely trust it is this one, but as yet I have not 

 had an opportunity of seeing it. 



One day whilst John and I, clad in our white 

 garments, were sitting behind a rock covered with 

 snow, waiting for some hinds to feed out of sight, two 

 eagles, which were fighting most desperately, almost 

 lighted on our heads. We kept as quiet as possible, 

 and witnessed the most tremendous combat between 

 the birds in the air, as they did not seem to like 

 wetting their feathers in the snow. The fight lasted 

 some ten minutes, and not only astonished us, but the 

 hinds also, which latter made off, and gave us a much 

 longer stalk in the snow than we should otherwise 

 have had. We waited to see the end of the fight, and 

 at last the younger bird, a bird of about two years old, 

 began to show signs of giving in. As eagles are 

 getting scarce, I raised my hand slowly when they 

 were within five yards of me, thinking that the old 

 warrior would give in perhaps, but not a bit of it ; the 

 younger bird tried to let go and fly away, but the 

 elder one held on, and the fight continued all across 



