BIRDS OF PREY. 305

The Hagle. Whatever may be said of the claims of other
birds, the Eagle is traditionally the king of the air, as the
lion is king of the forest. There are a large number of
species of which the Golden Eagle, the Spotted Eagle, the
Imperial Eagle and the White-headed Sea Eagle are among
the best known varieties. The Golden Eagle belongs to
Europe and America, and is sometimes found in Scotland
and Ireland. It lives upon smaller-birds and animals: hares,
young lambs and deer, grouse, plovers, &c., &c. Though the
' eagle has often attacked children the stories of its carrying
them away are generally discredited. Eagles often hunt in
pairs and show great ferocity and determination in attacking
their prey.

Eagle Mr. St. John gives the following description of

Shooting. a shooting expedition in which he bagged a
pair of splendid birds. “On a very dark morning I sallied
out with Malcolm to take a shot at the eagles, and at last
I was ensconced in a hiding-place (near the dead body ofa
sheep) which gave me hardly room to stand, sit, or lie. It
was scarcely grey dawn when a bird with a slow, flapping
flight passed, and alighted out of sight, but near, for I
heard him strike the ground, and my heart beat faster.
What was my disappointment, when his low, crowing croak
announced a raven; he hopped and walked suspiciously
round the sheep, till, supposing the coast clear, he hopped
upon the carcase, and began with his cut and thrust beak
to dig at the meat. Another raven soon joined him, and
then two more, who, after a kind of parley, were admitted
to their share of the banquet. They suddenly set up a
croak of alarm, stopped feeding, and all turned their knowing
eyes in one direction. At that moment I heard a sharp
scream, but very distant. The black party heard it too,
and instantly darted off, alighting again at a little distance.
Next came a rushing noise, and the monarch of the clouds
lighted at omce on the sheep. He quietly folded up his

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