1909-1910-] The Red Deer, &c., in Glen Garry Forest. 187 



again to the place of our rencontre, but the eagle never 

 obliged me with another visit. 



I recollect another occasion when a golden eagle approached 

 very near to two of us during an excursion of the Botanical 

 Camp to Glen Lyon. My companion, who died some years 

 ago, was a member of this Society, and did valuable work 

 for it. He was known to some of you who are old members, 

 but it must be over twenty years since he took an active 

 part in the work. We were botanising upon Ben Yannoch, 

 and had taken separate routes. I was working very rough 

 craggy ground, and several times during the day a golden 

 eagle had come quite close to me and seemed very inquisi- 

 tive. In the afternoon, on my way home, I met my friend, 

 who had not gone so far as I had, and who had not seen 

 the eagle. As we had some time to spare before leaving 

 for the camp, we determined to climb up the face of a cliff 

 which was high on the mountain. We were on rather a 

 steep part, and within three yards of the top, when, to our 

 surprise, the eagle, with wings outspread, sailed over the top 

 of the cliff within a few feet of us. The large bird evidently 

 got a fright, as immediately it observed us it gave a flutter 

 with its wings and rose higher in the air. It did not, how- 

 ever, go far, but again came closer to see what we were about. 

 My companion, who was frightened at the sudden appearance 

 of the eagle, was now panic-stricken. I begged him to stay, 

 and I assured him there was no danger, but it was useless 

 to plead with him. Down the hill he went at a dangerous 

 speed, but fortunately without accident, and made for home. 

 When I afterwards pointed out to him the risk he ran when 

 clambering down the mountain, and that the eagle had no 

 intention to attack us, my arguments were all in vain, as 

 he thoroughly believed he had had a miraculous escape from 

 mortal danger. I remained and continued my botanising, and 

 for some time the eagle kept circling round at a respectful 

 distance, and never attempted to attack. It seemed to be 

 of an inquisitive nature, but possibly it may have been 

 accustomed to follow a trapper during his operations and 

 to pick up any castaway carcase ; but in any case this 

 particular eagle did not seem in any great fear of mankind. 

 When in wild mountainous parts of the Highlands one often 



