4 THE MONTHLY
lons in the head of a devoted doe, pierced the skull,
and had actually begun to feast on the brains at
the very moment the animal fell. On another oc-
casion, a voracious bird, of the same species,
pounced on a setter-dog, the property of some of
the keepers at Braemar, and bore it as high as the
surrounding trees, when the pup, by its yelping and
struggles to escape, so alarmed the enemy, that he
relaxed his hold, and soared with the greatest speed
away. Yet, notwithstanding of these facts, I am
inclined to believe that eagles do very little mischief
at present beyond poaching most extensively.
Hares, conies, grouse, black-game, patridges, car-
rion, and vermin, are all considered their lawful
prey; and some of them, by frequenting lakes and
rivers, assail the finny tribes as often as they can,
and live by levying contributions from the waters.
For several years past a brace of eagles, whose ey-
rie is perched amidst the cliffs of Cairnsmuir, have
visited Cally every summer, in quest, no doubt, of
the hares and rabbits with which that princely do-
main abounds. The game-keepers, who are well
aware of their errand, have sometimes put their
longest barrels in requisition, and attempted to bring
them down with ball; but their efforts hitherto
have been unsuccessful---a circumstance I rejoice
at, rather than regret. The distance from Cally
to the top of Cairnsmuir must be at least a dozen
miles as the crow flies; but this, of course, is mere
recreation to the most -lordly bird that cleaves the
air, and is perhaps performed in a briefer space
than a gentleman about to travel can order his
horse, get it saddled, and brought round to the door.
