(5 
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 
“ Considering the rough character of the country the walking was by no means bad ; owing to the recent 
dry weather the low ground was in most parts fairly hard and fit to cross. A continuation of rain foi a 
few days would, however, have rapidly converted many of the marshy spots into waving bogs. About a mile 
from the nest we were joined by a couple of shepherds, who reported that the Eagle had been seen sitting 
soon after davbrcak. When we arrived within the distance of a few hundred yards a halt was called, and all 
c/ 
arrangements were made, so that there might be no unnecessary noise to disturb the bird. The nest was placed 
on a small ledge about sixty or eighty feet from the summit of an almost perpendicular cliff, the distance down 
to the water being about three times that height. 
“ As the only means of obtaining a shot at the Eagle, either on the nest or while flying out, was by firing 
from above, it was settled that I was to go down with a rope till I could obtain a view of the sitting bird. 
Owing to the ground above the clilf being steep for some distance and the turf too slippery to afford safe 
holding-ground to the men paying out the rope, they were forced to take up a position on a higher flat, and 
would he consequently unable to see what line I required ; being encumbered with the gun, and in momentary 
expectation of a shot, I should have enough to do without passing signals up the hand-line. In order that they 
might be acquainted with what I required, we posted one man on a rock where lie could command a view of the 
whole of the operations and signal my position to those with the rope. A keeper was next sent back to make 
his way down to the foot of the rocks with the retriever ‘ Athol,’ so as to be prepared in case the bird should 
fall into the water. 
“ All things being now arranged, we made our way with the ropes slowly and silently to a point on the 
hillside right above the nest. While the lines were being uncoiled I had a good opportunity to look round and 
observe the wild and desolate appearance of the country. The nest was in a rugged and uneven range of rocky 
cliffs overhanging a small salt-water loch ; to the north and west the barren hills increased in height, and the 
summits were lost in mist and fog. Owing to the dull and cloudy sky the view was more cheerless than it 
would otherwise have been ; but even under the most favourable circumstances of bright Aveather and sunshine 
the avIioIc scene Avas dreary and desolate iu the extreme. A single White-tailed Eagle, probably the mate of 
the sitting bird, Avhceling high in the air aboA'e the loeli, and a Great Northern Diver on the Avater almost 
below the nest, were the only signs of life. The mournful cry of the Diver alone broke the oppressive stillness, 
the monotonous roar of the surf breaking on the open coast being almost lost in the distance. 
“ A signal from the man on the look out informed us that the keeper with the dog had reached the appointed 
spot, and, every thing being ready, with the ropes made fast in such a manner that I could use the gun with 
freedom, I prepared to descend. The rocks in the face of the clilf were soon reached ; and with only one hand 
on the ropes for a guide, I managed to scramble on to a small ledge. Looking down from this point I was able 
to discern the edge of the nest, and crawling further out, the white tail of the Eagle came in sight. So far I 
could have easily gone without the slightest assistance from the ropes ; but to have fired a shot would have been 
utterly impossible. I tried several spots, but soon discovered that I should have to shoot from the ledge. 
Signalling my intentions to the man on the look out, I knelt down on the edge of the rock, and the rope was 
most carefully paid out ; inch by inch, slowly but surely, I was able to stretch over the face of the clilf, till at 
last I could make out the back of the bird; and as my position was hardly comfortable, I did not wait to make 
any further observations, but fired at once, and Avith a tremendous flutter the Eagle fell backwards over the 
precipice, receiving the contents of the second barrel as it disappeared from sight. The rope was next carefully 
brought back so that I was enabled to regain the ledge. Being here unable to see Avliat had happened to the bird, 
I gave the signal to lower away for the nest ; this being a straight drop Avas easily effected, and, crawling to the 
edge, I had a good view of a most animated scene below me. The Eagle was still alive and apparently strong 
although with both wings broken close to the body. Having fallen on the Avater the Avind had carried her 
against a small rock about a dozen yards from the shore ; here, with her head turned towards her foes, she 
