GOLDEN EAGLE. 
3 
combined together and let loose at once), and then I fancy, if the observant naturalist was in a position to 
minutely examine and publish a bulletin concerning the state of the royal bird, lie would scarcely be 
justified in stating that, judging by external appearances, lie defied the elements. 
A few years ago I was crossing the hills on a fearfully rough and stormy day ; although late in May, the 
weather was bitterly cold, the tops were covered at least a foot deep with newly-fallen snow, and squalls of 
sleet and rain were drifting with blinding force along the mountain-side. Our track was through a gorge in 
the hills ; and while picking our way in single file over the stones that encumbered our path, my attention was 
attracted by an exclamation in Gaelic from one of the keepers, and on looking up I discovered an Eagle perched 
on a slab of rock in the face of the cliff on the opposite side of the pass. At the first glance it was difficult to 
make out any thing through the downpour beyond an indistinct brown mass; but on further inspection this 
gradually resolved itself into the shape of the most dejected-looking representative of the species Eagle I have 
ever beheld. With his head drawn down between his shoulders, his plumage apparently thoroughly soaked, and 
the water dripping from his feathers, he seemed so entirely engrossed by his own misfortunes as to be utterly 
regardless of our presence. I examined the spot as carefully as I could (considering the rough state of the 
weather), but I was unable to perceive any manner in which the bird could be stalked and shot, so inaccessible 
was his perch, except by means of a rifle. Eew and far between were the passers-by in this wild glen ; and I 
think most likely that the ledge was a favourite resting-place. Eagles often have certain stations, sometimes 
at a considerable distance from their breeding-quarters, to which they resort after feeding, where they may 
quietly digest their meal and arrange and clean their plumage. 
One such spot I discovered on a grassy slope near the summit of an island in a large loch at no great 
distance from the west coast. Here for a space of six or eight feet the grass was worn quite short, and 
pellets and feathers were scattered in all directions. Although there arc no nests in the immediate vicinity, 
the hills on which three or four eyries arc placed arc plainly visible from the spot. The lower portion of the 
island (which is at the distance of at least a mile from the nearest shore) is thickly wooded and the ascent by no 
means easy ; but those who scramble to the summit will be rewarded by the sight of some of the finest scenery 
in the Western Highlands. The surrounding moorland within five or six miles of the loch, though crossed by 
several rough and stony ridges, contains no hills of any commanding height ; consequently in clear weather 
an unbroken view can be obtained of several of those lofty mountains whose fantastic outlines arc always an 
object of interest to those who visit this wild and deserted region. 
Another of these resting-places is on a steep hillside in one of the central districts of the Northern 
Highlands. This spot appears to have some particular attractions to these birds : though only one or possibly 
two may be noticed frequenting it, should they be captured, it will again be tenanted in the course of the next 
few days. It is now some years since the locality was first pointed out to me ; but I am well aware that it 
still continues a favourite resort. A few feathers and some down clinging among the tufts of heather that 
sprung from the face of the slabs of rock below the ledge first led to the discovery. There arc along the same 
ridge within half a mile no less than three or four other moss-covered stones or grassy slopes that bear evidence 
of being at times used by the Eagles. This their head quarters is overshadowed by a couple of thick birch bushes 
and a mountain-asli. The worn turf at the roots of the trees and the roots themselves, together with a mass of 
pellets and dried and dirty feathers, bear witness to the frequent visits to the spot ; while the lower branches 
of the trees that come within reach of where they sit arc entirely cut off by their beaks. The birds had in f ac t 
formed a regular arbour to shelter themselves, removing all the boughs that interfered with their comfort, as 
neatly as if the work had been carried out by a woodman armed with a chopper. The ends of the twi-s that 
were left were perfectly dead and scored with hundreds of marks, showing that the result had not been 
accomplished in a day. When first I went to examine the place I was in search of specimens so I at once 
proceeded to set traps on the ledge. Within a few feet of one another there were three spots on which tin 
