176 INSESSORES. 



water, and who has descended from his elevation just 

 in time to force the poor bird again to take refuge 

 beneath the water almost before he has taken breath ; 

 and thus by repeated attacks the duck becomes wea- 

 ried, and swims for the shore, where he is easily cap- 

 tured by the Eagles, who divide the dainty morsel 

 between them. 



Fish also constitutes a considerable portion of the 

 food of the Bald Eagle, and to the vicinity of the 

 sea or other large bodies of water they often resort 

 for the purpose of obtaining it. Here one may some- 

 times be seen " fishing," as the boys say, " upon his 

 o.wn hook," but much more frequently does he sup- 

 ply himself and young with food by robbing the in- 

 dustrious Fish Hawk of the fruits of his honest toil. 

 The scene thus enacted is often of a very interesting 

 and exciting character, and is thus graphically de- 

 scribed by Wilson : " Elevated on the high dead limb 

 of some gigantic tree that commands a wide view of 

 the neighboring shore and ocean, the Eagle seems 

 calmly to contemplate the motions of the various 

 feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocations 

 below, the snow-white Gulls slowly winnowing the 

 air; the busyFringae coursing along the sands; trains 

 of Ducks streaming over the surface; silent and watch- 

 ful Cranes, intent and wading; clamorous Crows; and 

 all the winged multitudes that subsist by the bounty 

 of this vast liquid magazine of Nature. High over 

 all these hovers one, whose action instantly arrests 

 his whole attention. By his wide curvature of wing, 

 and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be 



