188 



BIRDS. 



they seldom descend to the lowlands. I once saw no less than six 

 Golden Eagles on the wing at the same time, evidently old birds 

 teaching their young to soar. This was on the Bentoig beat in 

 the Blackmount Forest (Argyll)."^ 



An eyrie, long deserted in Glen Tilt, was reoccupied in 1887 and 

 1888. The eggs came into the possession of Mr. MacLeay of Inver- 

 ness. I am not aware that this eyrie has been again occupied. 



I have later information as to certain still occupied eyries, but 

 I refrain from remarking upon them, as I am not aware what the 

 wishes of the proprietors are regarding them. It is possible they 

 may desire to protect them, and not allow them to be raided on 

 behalf of any museum, privileged or otherwise ; but, on the other hand, 

 these proprietors may desire their destruction for reasons of which, 

 in most cases at least, they themselves are the best judges, and they 

 may not wish to be interfered with in their judgment by scraps of 

 grandmotherly legislation carried out very often in a fine old gi'and- 

 motherly way to suit all parties, or none.^ 



From the north and north-east of Fife, naturally there is little to be 

 mentioned. But Mr. W. Berwick tells me it is an occasional visitor, 

 and that "one was observed at Stravithie, and two near Mount 

 Melville a good many years ago.'^ 



Haliaetus albicilla (L.). Sea-Eagle. 



Eare, or perhaps quite extinct. Certainly extinct as a breeding species 

 in the area. 



^ Further referring to this district, Millais relates that "James M'Coll showed me 

 the eyrie of two Eagles which he said had been tenanted from time immemorial, and 

 that the nesting in it had been in use for centuries seemed probable, because the hill on 

 which it exists is known as the Eagle's Hill. 



" Now, the interesting part relating to this pair of birds is that one of them is White 

 — a whole or partial albino. I saw the two birds belonging to the nest during earlier 

 days stalking on the home-beat, and although the distance was very great, I could see 

 that one of them was of an unusually light colour, which may have been dirty white at 

 closer range. I have cited the above, because variations in plumage amongst Eagles are 

 extremely rare." (See also under White-tailed or Sea-Eagle. — J. A. H.-B.). 



But I am in a position to state that this very rock — named Craig an lolair — 

 notwithstanding its name, never held the nest of the Eagle in the memory of the oldest 

 forester on the ground, and who is still alive and vigorous, and the probability is that 

 the mistake lies with Millais' informant. Considerable pains have been taken as to 

 the rights of this matter. 



^ In thus now and then making critical allusions to our latest bird -preservation Acts, 

 I by no means desire that I should be taken as seriously objecting to the Acts as a whole. 

 But I do desire to express my firm opinion that much of the said legislation is quite un- 

 necessary and uncalled for ; and further, that their significance is not fully realised by 

 those living at a distance who are unacquainted with local requirements. 



