Page:Monthly scrap book, for March.pdf/5

 SCRAP BOOK. 5

From his vicinity to the hills, zeal as a natur- alist, and ardour as a sportsman, Mr Stewart, of Cairnsmuir, possesses more practical knowledge of the haunts and habits of the Scottish eagle, than any gentleman I ever meet with. On more than one occasion, he has marked their eyries, and a few years ago, after adopting the proper precautions, he sent a person down the cliffs with the view of securing a particular nest, when he knew the pa- rent birds were both abroad. The messenger suc- ceeded, and returned safely from his voyage of dis- covery, though he only captured one eaglet. In- deed there was only one in the nest--a circum- stance by no means uncommon. It is of the very nature of birds of prey to be jealous and quarrel- some in a high degree, and eaglets, I am told, begin to fight almost as soon as they are out of the shell. In this way the eyrie, like some other nur- series, is apt to become a scene of uproar, when its guardians are abroad on other business; and at meal-time, when rations are brought in and divided, particularly when the demand exceeds the supply, feuds arise about the loaves and fishes," which not unfrequently terminate in the stronger bird thrusting the weaker from the nest, long before its pinions are grown, to meet its fate on the cliffs be- low. An assault of this kind had occurred in the case of which I am speaking, and Mr Stewart, though anxious for a pair at the time, had to con- tent himself with a single nursling of the wild. Shortly after he shot its mother, a magnificent specimen of the golden eagle, with legs, or rather