ornithologist's text-book. 169 



were conjectured to be descendants of the former, 

 although driven off by their parents according to 

 the general habits of the birds. I have seen them 

 in Strathspey, and Badenoch, in Stratherrick, and 

 in the moor between Kiltarlity and Sti athglass ; 

 and I once saw one over Culloden moor, not far 

 from the scene of the battle, though some of the 

 land in the intermediate neighbourhood was under 

 crop. Indeed, when the weather is very clear, and 

 the Eagles fly high, they continue their course in 

 perfect indifference to anything that may be hap- 

 pening on the ground ; and I have been told, 

 though I do not vouch for the fact, that they some- 

 times stoop down and carry off hens and even cats 

 from the very doors of the cottages. I found, how- 

 ever, that Eagles had been a sort of 'lions' with 

 wandering tourists, and that any number of stories 

 of their achievements might be had cheap. I never 

 saw the Golden Eagle near the west coast, or in 

 the islands (though that is no proof of its not being 

 there), but I have seen the Sea Eagle and the 

 Osprey. 



" The eyrie of those magnificent birds, which is 

 a dwelling as well as a cradle for their broods, is 

 placed on some ledge of the rock, and rarely on a 

 tree, unless where the tangled roots spring from the 

 cliff, and offer a broad space which can be covered 

 with sticks. The place is generally slippery with 

 the refuse of their prey ; and when the young are 

 there, it is usually well stored with provisions, 

 which consist indiscriminately of quadrupeds and 

 birds. The eggs are seldom more than two, though 

 some say that there are occasionlly three, and that 

 in such broods there are two females, one of which 

 becomes an i odd Eagle' and lives solitary, growing 

 to a very large size, being very ferocious, and drop- 



