UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 321 



rini: and tyrannical: attributes not exerted but on particular occa- 

 -ion>: but when put forth, overpowering' all opposition. Elevated 

 on the high dead limb of some gig-antic tree, that commands a wide 

 view of the neighbouring shore and ocean, he seems calmly to con- 

 template the motions of the various feathered tribes that pursue their 

 busy avocations below : the snow white Gulls slowly winnowing the 

 air: the busy Tring;e coursing along the sands: trains of Ducks 

 streaming over the -urfaee : silent and watchful Cranes, intent and 

 wading: clamorous ( 'rows, and all the winged multitudes that >nli-i-t 

 bv the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of nature. High over all 

 these hovers one. whose action instantly arrests all his attention. By 

 its wide curvature of wing, and sudden suspension in air, he knows 

 it to be the /'/>// Iliurk. settling over some devoted victim of the 

 deep. I Us eye kindles at the sight, and balancing himself, with half 

 opened wings, on the branch, he watches the result. Down, rapid 

 as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant object of his attention, 

 the roar of its wing.- reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep, 

 making the surges foam around. At this moment the eager looks 

 of the Eagle are nil ardour: and levelling his neck for night, he 

 sees the Fish Hawk once more emerge, struggling with its prey, and 

 mounting in the air with scream- of exultation. These are the -ig- 

 nal for our hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chace. 

 soon gains on the Fish Hawk, each exerts his utmost to mount above 

 the other, displaying in these rencounters the most elegant and >ub- 

 lime aerial evolutions. The unincumbered Eagle rapidly advance-, 

 and is just on the point of reaching his opponent, when, with a sud- 

 den scream, probably of despair and honest execration, the latter 

 drops his fish : the Eagle poising himself for a moment, as if to take 

 a more certain aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his 

 grasp ere it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten booty silently 

 away to the woods.* 



The Bald Eagle frequently destroys young lambs and pigs : and 

 will sometimes attack old sickly sheep, aiming furiously at their eye-. 

 Ducks, Geese, Gulls and other sea fowl, are also seized with avidity. 

 The most putrid carrion, when nothing better can be had, is accepta- 

 ble. The nest of this species is generally fixed on a very large and 

 lofty tree, often in a swamp or morass and difiicult to be ascended. 

 It is large, being added to and repaired every season, until it becomes 

 a black prominent mass, observable at a considerable distance. It is 

 formed of large sticks, sods, earthy rubbish, hay, moss Are. The eggs 

 are often two to three in number, of a whitish colour ; the young are 

 hatched early in March. It has at length been ascertained that the 

 Sea or (4 ray Eagle is the present species, in a different stage of colour. 



Ring-tail Knijlu. This noble bird, in strength, spirit and activity, 

 ranks ainong the first of his tribe. It is found, though sparingly dis- 

 persed, over the whole temperate and arctic regions, particularly the 

 latter ; breeding on high precipitous rocks ; always preferring a moun- 

 tainous country. The tail feathers of this bird, are highly valued by 

 the various tribes of American Indians, for ornamenting: their calu- 

 mets or pipes of peace. Hence this bird has been called by some 

 writers the Calumet Eagle. 



* If Mr. Wilson had never written a line except the above, he would have de- 

 served the highest eulogy for a description which is perhaps unrivalled by the 

 whole tribe of naturalists, from the age of Pliny to the present day. The compo- 

 sition is not only excellent, but the accuracy of the detail transcends all praise. 



