56 



THE WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. 



into the apartment where the Eagle was kept, the Biid iinineduiteij' 

 ruffled the feathers on its head and neck, cast a dreadful look at ita 

 victim, and, taking a short flight, immediately alighted on his back. 

 It held the neck firmly with one foot, by which the Dog was prevented 

 from turning his head to bite, and with the other grasped one of his 

 flanks, at the same time driving its talons into the body; and in this 

 attitude it continued, till the Dog expired with fruitless outcries and 

 eftbrts. The beak, which, had been hitherto unemployed, was now 

 used for making a small hole in the skin : this was gradually enlarged ; 

 and from this, the Bird began to tear away and devour the flesh, and 

 went on till he was satisfied. 



Notwithstanding its ferocity in attacking animals, this Eagle never 

 gave any molestition to man. Its owner, who constantly fed it, could 

 safely enter the apartment where the bird was kept, and could behold 

 these assaults without dread or apprehension; nor was the Eagle 

 prevented from attacking the living prey he offered to it, or rendered 

 shy by his presence. In general, when it had flesh sufiicient, it made 

 only one meal a day. The Abbe found, by weighing what it ate, that 

 thirty ounces of flesh, one day with another, were fully sufficient for it. 



These birds are found in all quarters of the world ; and in hot as 

 well as cold climates. Poiret s[)eaks of having encountered them in 

 the plains of Barbary. They are also very common in several parts 

 of Europe, in Persia, and Arabia ; and also in most of the mountainous 

 iJistricts of America. 



THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE, OR BALD EAGLE. 



VaiTB-UC.tDED BAQLS. 



The White 

 headed Eagle, or 

 Bald Eagle, as it is 

 called by Wilson, 

 inhabits most parts 

 of America, and 

 especially fre- 

 quents the cataract 

 of Niagara. It is 

 very accommodat- 

 ing in its appetite, 

 and preys indis 

 criminately on 

 Lambs, Pigs, Swans 

 and the Fish which, 

 as related above, 

 it takes away from 

 the unfortunate 

 Osprey Some 

 times it can take 

 Fish honorably for 

 itself in shallow 

 water, by wading 



