164 GOLDENEAGLE. Class II. 



Illa^fum unguibus hasfit onus, 

 the theft was difcovered in time, and the children 

 reftored unhurt out of the eagles nefts, to the af- 

 frighted parents. In order to extirpate thefe per- 

 nicious birds, there is a law in the Orkney ifles, 

 which entitles any perfon that kills an eagle to an 

 hen out of every houfe in the parifh, in which it 

 was killed *. 



Eagles feem to give the preference to the carcafles 

 of dogs or cats. Perfon?, who make it their bufi- 

 nefs to kill thefe birds, lay that of one or other 

 by way of bait ; and then conceal themfelves within 

 gun-fhot. They fire the inftant the eagle alights, 

 for Ihe that moment looks about before fhe begins 

 to prey. Yet quick as her fight may be, her 

 fenfe of hearing feems flill more exquifite. If 

 hooded crows or ravens happen to be nearer the 

 carrion and refort to it firft, and give a fingle croak, 

 the eagle is certain of inftantly repairing to the 

 fpot, if there is one in any part of the neigh- 

 borhood. 

 J-ojsGEviTY. Eagles are remarkable for their longevity ; and 

 for their power of fuftaining a long abftinence 

 from food. Mr. Keyjler relates that an eagle died 

 at Vienna after a confinement of 104 years. This 

 preeminent length of days probably gave occafion 



* Camden^ s Brit, I. 1 474. The imprelfion of an eagle and 

 child on the coin of the IJle of Man, was probably owing to 

 iomt accident of this kind. 



to 



