CHAPTER I 



CHILDREN OF THE SUN 

 (Golden Eagle and Buzzard) 



JUST as there are many who would dispute the right 

 of the Hon to the proud place he holds among wild 

 beasts, so there are not a few who doubt the eagle's 

 right of heritage to the kingship of the air. Certain it is 

 that if this bird were shorn of certain plebeian traits of 

 character its kingliness would fire the imagination to a 

 higher point of respect than those who know it can ever 

 feel for it, and in many ways — indeed in most — the 

 peregrine is a more kingly bird. 



But, apart from the fact that the eagle is far and away 

 the most formidable of our wild birds, dreaded by 

 almost every creature of our woods and hills, the 

 soaring majesty of its flight has doubtless a great 

 deal to do with the '' lofty " position that it holds. 

 One can recognize an eagle miles away, when it 

 is the merest speck in the heavens, by its marvellous 

 soaring and gliding powers, which far surpass even those 

 of the buzzard and the great black-backed gull. But, 

 whereas the pukka blue-blooded falcons eat only what 

 they kill, eagles will eat almost anything. In the Rocky 

 Mountains I once saw bald-headed eagles descending in 

 droves to feed on the ridges of dead salmon washed up 

 on a promontory ; we were miles away when first we 

 noticed them, but the collection of " royal '' birds so much 

 roused our interest that we journeyed over the lake in 

 order to discover what had attracted such a number, 



IS 



