54 BRITISH BIRDS. 



portion of the entrails, part being swallowed. The raven being unable either 

 to separate or disgorge her booty, she had to fly away with about half a yard 

 dangling out of her mouth. The Eagle, observing this, instantly gave chase, 

 and soon after succeeded in seizing hold of the end of the piece and in 

 dragging both it and the raven to the ground, on reaching which he struck 

 and killed the raven, and soon after made a meal of it and the carrion, 

 returning towards the carcass. In the mean time, however, two of the dogs 

 had returned ; and possession being nine points of the law, they growled 

 defiance at the invader and prepared to defend their rights. The Eagle, bent 

 on obtaining possession, for a short time hovered near the spot, and suddenly 

 descending gave the dogs two blows with its wrings and expelled them. It 

 fed for a short time, and then flew off with a large piece of carrion, which it 

 deposited on a distant eminence, thereafter descending into the neighbouring 

 loch and enjoying a bathe with evident relish. This, however, did not finish 

 the Eagle's adventures of the day. After slowly rising out of the loch 

 it descended upon a flock of sheep and lambs and carried off in its talons a 

 young lamb from the stock of Mr. Gunn, Braehour, and disappeared on the 

 top of Dorrery. Mr. Gunn, having observed the theft, gave chase, accom- 

 panied (strange to say) by the ewe whose lamb had been taken away. 

 Whether the mother had observed the direction the Eagle took, or merely 

 followed Mr. Gunn after being deprived of its lamb, it is impossible to say ; 

 but it is certainly singular that she should have at once, without invitation, 

 accompanied him in the chase after her young one. On arriving at the top 

 of Dorrery the Eagle was observed resting, while the lamb was skipping 

 about uninjured. The Eagle maintained its position till Mr. Gunn was within 

 fifty yards of it, when it took to flight, and Mr. Gunn, with ewe and lamb, 

 returned to Braehour, the lamb being none the worse for its aerial voyage in 

 the talons of the Eagle.— Northern Ensign.''' ('Times,' Monday, March 21, 

 1864.) 



