GOLDEN EAGLE YEARS. By Mike Tomkies. New revised edition.

(1982) 1994 2nd edition. 8vo (162 x 242mm). Pp224. Colour photographs, bibliography. Green cloth, spine titled in gilt.

This is Mike Tomkies' account of his years in the Scottish Highlands observing the lives of Golden Eagles in the wild. Tomkies records "the aerial mastery, the territoriality, the nesting and the rearing of young of five pairs of parent birds from damp cramped hides on precarious cliff edges." This revised edition has new colour photographs and a new introduction by the author. Chapters include: The coming of Atalanta; Search under licence; Hide and seek; Ultimate reality; Courtship, mating and spectacular displays; Living with eagles; Almost touching the void; Growing up; Hard times; Care on a cliff edge; The wind, the rain and the cold; Atalanta and Melanion's twin chicks; The most profound experience; Flying free. Appendices cover - range and distribution; prey brought in to West Highland eyries; heights of West Highland eyries; direction eyries face; greenery used to freshen eyries.