CONCLUSION 



Clll 



'To William 

 an Eagell, 



shot the Buck Crag Eagle, as being an active elderly man, when 



she first met him in 1843. He was vigorous enough to shoot 



Wild Duck on Ulleswater with the ponderous muzzle-loader 



which now adorns the kitchen ceiling of Mistress Sisson. As 



early as 1785 he had been paid a shilling for killing some 



Kavens that haunted the crags of Barton parish. I have reason 



to believe that he shot the Buck Crag Eagle between 1793 and 



1806. The foot was in his possession at the time of his death 



in 1844, and has remained in the 



care of the family until now. The 



Barton book records a payment on 



the death of an Eagle in the same 



district in 1736. 



Lancaster for killing 



£0, Is. 0d.' In 1750, there is a 



still briefer entry, ' for an Eagle 



£0, Is. 0d.' By the kind help of 



Mr. John Birkett, I have ascertained 



that Mr. Christopherson purchased 



the two other feet of Sea Eagles, now 



temporarily in my possession, at the 



sale of the Crosthwaite Museum. The 



largest of these probably belonged 



to the bird sent to Greystoke from 



an eyrie near Buttermere (p. 191). 1 



The other may have belonged to a 



male Sea Eagle killed in Borrow- 



dale. 



With this explanation, I must 

 furl canvass and let go the anchor. 

 How far our voyage has been a 

 success or failure may safely be left 

 to the judgment of a generous and impartial public. I am not 

 conscious of having neglected my duties in any way. On the 



Foot of Sea Eagle, J nat. size, 

 killed at Buck Crag. 



1 The Buttermere Sea Eagles nested on a shelf of rock in the centre of 

 a great mural precipice, between High Crag and High Stile. This eyrie 

 faced east ; that of Buck Crag had a northerly aspect. The Wallow Crag 

 eyrie faced west. 



