2 
FALCONID^.. 
was shown an egg said to have been taken in Shetland, and was 
confidently assured that the Golden Eagle bred regularly in the 
high cliffs of Bressay, where the supposed nest was even pointed 
out to me. However, a few inquiries among the people proved 
beyond doubt that the usual mistake had been fallen into. As 
for the egg — it was at least an excellent imitation — I was sub- 
sequently informed that it had been purchased from a dealer 
who was only too well aware of his customer’s anxiety to pro- 
cure a genuine Shetland specimen. 
Previously to April 1866, I never even saw a Golden Eagle 
in Shetland to my knowledge. Then, however, as it rose 
within eighty yards of where I stood, I had a good opportunity 
of observing its appearance and mode of flight, to which fact 
may be attributed my less infrequent notes of its occurrence 
subsequently. 
]\Iy acquaintance with it in its wild state having been so 
very slight, I can add nothing original as to its habits. Indeed 
the full and interesting account of this species, given by Mr 
Gray in his “Birds of the West of Scotland,” seems almost to 
exhaust a subject always attractive to the naturalist, and the 
more so at a time when the work of extermination is almost 
complete. That such extermination is not far distant, becomes 
more and more apparent when we examine the ornithological 
records of every succeeding year; although it is not so easy to 
perceive Iioav this sad event can be avoided. Legislative in- 
terference for its even partial protection would doubtless be 
regarded by many as a piece of tyranny; but so was the now 
popular Sea Birds Preservation Act. It is nevertheless by no 
means certain that we have done unmixed good in disturbing 
the balance of nature by tlie continual killing down of pre- 
dacious birds. 
