20 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



steep place like a precipice at the edge of the field, and the ox Is almost sure, 

 sooner or later, to run over it and be killed. Then the eagle can easily slip 

 down and devour him. 



THE TUFTED EAGLE. 



There is a small eagle with a tuft on his head that lives in Africa, and has 

 such a very dreamy appearance as he sits on the branch of a tree, that you 

 think he is asleep, or else is a very stupid bird. 



He lives in those fertile parts of the country through which the river Nile 

 flows and gladdens the scene. There are fields, and \illages, and beautiful 

 groves of the mimosa-tree. He often sits perched on a branch for hours 

 together ; but he is not asleep, as you might suppose. Onl}- watch a few 

 minutes and see what will happen. Yonder is a little squirrel playing blithely 

 among the branches. It is as happy as can be, and runs merrily about, as if 

 it feared no evil. 



But by-and-by, in its gambols, it ventures near to where the eagle is 

 sitting. The eagle has seen it all along, only he pretended not to do so. He 

 did not want to frighten the squirrel av/ay, but to get it into his clutches. Now 

 the right moment has come. He rises, raises his wings, and gives a terrible 

 pounce. You would not have thought he had been so strong or so fierce. 

 But it is all over with the poor squirrel. 



Sometimes the eagle plays the same game with a mouse or a rat, or any 

 little bird that, in its happy freedom and joy of heart, ventures heedlessly 

 near the fatal spot. 



His eyes have a fiery expression, and are a bright yellow colour ; and his 

 plumage is brown. His nest is in some tree, and is lined with feathers. 

 Though he is small, he is as savage as any of his tribe ; but if he is kept in 

 confinement, he becomes rather cowardly, and loses his ancient spirit. 



