152 A DESCRIPTION OF 
was an eye-witness of the fact, made a drawing of it, 
which he afterwards engraved. Two instances are said 
to have occurred in Scotland, of the Eagle having 
flown away with infants to its nest : hut in both cases it is 
added that the children were recovered, without being mate- 
rially injured. This bird has been often tamed, but in 
this situation it still preserves an innate love of liberty. 
The nest of the Eagle is composed of strong sticks, co- 
vered with rushes, and generally built on the point of an 
inaccessible rock, whence it darts upon its prey with the 
rapidity of lightning. The period of incubation is said 
to be thirty days ; and when the young are hatched, both 
the male and female exert all their industry to provide 
for their wants. In the county of Kerry, a peasant is 
said once to have formed the resolution of plundering an 
Eagle's nest, built upon a small island in the beautiful 
lake of Killarney. He accordingly swam to the island 
while the parents were away ; and, after robbing the nest 
of the young, he was preparing to swim back, with the 
Eaglets tied in a string ; but while he was yet up to the 
chin in the water, the old Eagles returned, and, missing 
their family, fell upon the invader with such fury, that, in 
spite of all his resistance, they dispatched him with their 
beaks and talons. 
