198 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
Enterkin, and coming round a bend at Petersykehead 
we were suddenly quite near the bird. There seemed no 
doubt to us that by size, shape and colourmg it was a 
specimen of the Golden Eagle. The day, autumn, was 
Sy, with bright and cloudy intervals. The bird came 
from the direction of Enterkm ; and rismg higher, kept 
on towards the west." 
The Golden Eagle still breeds in some Highland deer- 
forests, where it is welcomed for keeping in check the super- 
abund;nce of "blue-hares." It " f . f-^-^ to tSl 
mountains of Europe and North Africa, and extends to the 
extreme east of Asia"* and is also an inhabitant of the 
mounTain regions in the northern portion of North America^ 
It is sad to think that so splendid an ornament to our 
wUdest scenery should have been extermmated; but 
Tthe return of the species to one of its former haunt 
in a neighbouring county be encouraged, we may perhap.s 
at no dLant date be able to record the Golden Eagle 
as something more than a very rare visitor. 
THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 
Haliaetus albicilla (Linnseus). 
Local names-SEA-EAGLE ; Erne; Yibn. 
" Some ruder and more ravage scene, 
Like that which frowns round dark Loch Skene, 
There eagles scream from isle to shore ; 
Down all the rocks the torrents roar ; 
O'er the black waves incessant driven. 
Dark mists infect the summer heaven ; 
Through the rude barriers of the lake. 
Away its hurrying g^^^^^.-^^^^^ scott.-" Marmion." 
Formerly a resident ; now a very rare visitor. 
As has already been stated, the confusion between the 
White-tailed and Golden Eagles renders it very difficult to 
♦ Lloyd's Nat. Hist., Vol. II., p- 158. 
