1 86 The Red Deer ^ &c., in Glen Garry Forest. [Sess. 



when on the wing, and has its eyrie high up the mountain- 

 side, frequently in the face of a precipitous crag. It 

 generally frequents the same spot year after year, where it 

 rears its young. It nests early, and lays either two or three 

 eggs, which are hatched out by the end of April. The young 

 remain in the nest for a considerable time before being able 

 to fly. It is said that the nestlings are left a good deal 

 to themselves, as the mother often goes away in the morning 

 and does not return until sundown with the necessary sup- 

 ply of food. When they finally leave the nest, the young 

 birds for a period keep much in the company of their 

 parents, probably to learn their lesson in obtaiuing food- 

 supplies. They are apt pupils, and ere long are quite able 

 to capture all they require for themselves in the way of 

 blue mountain hares, rabbits, or grouse. The eagle is also 

 fond of carrion, which is frequently its undoing. 



These majestic birds may at times be seen in family 

 parties, or in small flocks, slowly circling overhead as they 

 wing their way homewards of an evening. I observed they 

 seldom flew direct to their eyries, but took circuitous routes, 

 and after disappearing behind a mountain would take a 

 turn to reach the point they desired to approach unobserved. 

 When in a boat on Loch Lochy of an evening, I have seen 

 as many as six at one time come from a north - easterly 

 direction and circle above our heads, and then wing their 

 way to the south - west into the wild country of Cameron 

 of Lochiel, and pass out of view. 



Most frequently the golden eagle goes in pursuit of its 

 prey alone, and sometimes comes unexpectedly very close 

 when one is on the mountain. One day in August 1908 

 I was botanising under the great waterfall at Kilfinnan, 

 close to the edge of Glen Garry deer forest. The sun was 

 shining brightly, and a slight noise overhead made me look 

 up, and what a sight met my gaze 1 A large eagle with out- 

 stretched wings was hovering above me not more than twenty 

 yards away. I was so near that I could see right through its 

 wing-feathers, and in the brilliant sunshine it looked diaph- 

 anous — " a thing of beauty." The bird did not seem fright- 

 ened, as it continued hovering for about a couple of minutes, 

 to my great pleasure and delight. I returned again and 



