106 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



the eagle the emblematic bird of America. We think of 

 Audubon when we see the bird on a shield that supports 

 the flag. 



The sight made Audubon restless to secure one of the 

 species, and to study its plans and habits. This restlessness 

 never left him until he had in his possession the monarch 

 of birds. 



One day on the Green River, while collecting crayfish, 

 he saw the eagle again. The place was bounded by high 

 cliffs, and he thought that its nest was likely to be there. 



He hid himself at the foot of a cliff where the nest 

 seemed likely to be, from the carefully studied spiral move- 

 ment of the bird. 



After some time, there was the sound of descending 

 wings in the clear air. He heard a strange hissing; the 

 noise was that of young eaglets stretching out their necks 

 in expectation of food. 



The male bird descended with a fish in his talons, evi- 

 dently unaware that he was watched. 



Presently the female followed him, also bearing a fish 

 for her young. 



But her keen suspicions penetrated the shelter of the 

 rocks below. She saw by a movement there, or a watch- 

 ing eye, that the nest had been discovered. 



She dropped her fish and uttered a shriek of alarm. 



She soared upward. Her mate followed her. Audu- 

 bon was unable to scale the cliffs so as to secure the birds 



