82 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [cHap. x. 
CHAPTER X. 
The Eagle: Habits; Greediness; Anecdotes of; Killing Eagles; Trapping; 
Food of—The Peregrine Falcon: Manner of Hunting—Tame Falcon 
Anecdotes of —Guinea-Hen and Ducks— The Osprey—The Kite: 
Trapping —The Buzzard; Nests and Habits of. 
I saw an eagle to-day passing southwards, apparently on his way 
from the mountains of Sutherland or Caithness to the moresouthern 
heights of the Grampians. The bird was flying very near the 
ground, making his way against the wind, and pursued by a whole 
squadron of grey crows, who had found out that he was a stranger, 
and taking advantage of the unconcerned contempt with which 
he treated their attacks, kept up a continual clamour and petty 
warfare against the royal bird. The eagle, as he came over the 
more enclosed part of the country, flew higher, as if suspicious 
of concealed foes amongst the hedges and enclosures, I have 
almost every year during my stay in Morayshire seen the eagles 
occasionally passing, at the beginning of winter invariably going 
southwards, and again early in the spring on their return north- 
wards; in windy weather flying low, but when calm, cleaving 
the air at a great height. The eagle’s flight, when passing from 
one point to another, is peculiarly expressive of strength and. 
vigour. He wends his way with deliberate strong strokes of his 
powerful wing, every stroke apparently driving him on a con- 
siderable distance, and in this manner advancing through the air 
as rapidly as the pigeon or any other bird which may appear to 
fly much more quickly. 
Notwithstanding the facility with which he flies when once 
fairly launched, like many other heavy birds, a very slight wound 
disables him from rising into the air when on level ground. 
Even after having gorged himself to excess (and there is no 
greater glutton than this king of the air) the eagle is unable to 
rise, and falls a victim occasionally to his want of moderation in 
feeding. When in Sutherlandshire I twice fell in with instances 
