1907-190^-] British Birds of Prey. 21 



' Naturalist's Library,' regarding eagles, that such was the 

 depredation committed among the flocks during the lambing 

 season between seventy and eighty years ago, that every device 

 was employed and great expense incurred for their destruction. 

 It is not so many years since lambs disappeared on a farm in 

 Strathconan, and the following season the attention of the 

 proprietor, Mr A. J. Balfour, was called to the fact that they 

 were again nesting, when he reluctantly gave instructions that 

 the eagles should be destroyed. Hearing this from the keepers, 

 I wrote that I thought if the nest was robbed the destruction 

 of lambs would cease. I therefore purchased a new rope and 

 started for Strathconan. I have already given a paper to this 

 Society on " How I robbed the Eagle's Nest," and it would be 

 superfluous here to recapitulate. Suffice it to say that the 

 eaglets then secured, like little balls of down, can now be seen 

 in the Museum in Chambers Street. 



Doubtless the part eagles were destined to play, in common 

 with other species of the hawk tribe, was to keep down the 

 numbers of the birds and beasts on which they preyed, and in 

 this manner was arranged what some are pleased to call " the 

 balance of nature." When man, however, appeared upon the 

 scene, the mission of these tyrants of the air was at an end. 

 Is there any one who would justify the depredations among 

 the flocks during the lambing season, as was the case less than 

 a century ago ? The practical farmer, anxious that his flock 

 should increase, takes care that they are not molested during 

 the breeding season by birds and beasts of prey, and as a 

 consequence gives rewards for the destruction of these enemies. 

 About fifty years ago, with improved steamships, wool and 

 mutton were imported from other countries, with the result 

 that profits from sheep-farming in the mountainous districts 

 of Scotland, where stock could not be wintered, were reduced 

 to a minimum. Grouse and other game, however, became of 

 great value, barren wastes yielding profitable rents. In order 

 to increase the stock of grouse, thdr enemies, like those of 

 lambs, had to be reckoned with. A former President of this 

 Society, Mr Scot Skirving, stated to a Parliamentary Com- 

 mittee appointed in 1873 to inquire into the advisability of 

 extending a close time to certain wild birds, that " no bird on 

 earth would be a nuisance if man had not interfered with 



