SOUTHERN BALD EAGLE 329 



On one occasion, after separating bis bird from tbe flock, be spent some 

 minutes in its capture — tbe Coot eluding bim by diving; tbis frequent rebuff 

 seemed to provoke tbe Eagle to sucb an extent tbat be finally followed it under 

 tbe water — remaining some seconds — so long, indeed, tbat I thougbt bim 

 drowned ; be finally appeared, bowever, witb tbe bird in bis talons, but so 

 weak and exbausted tbat be could scarcely raise bimself above tbe water, and 

 for tbe first tbirty or forty yards of his fligbt bis wings broke tbe surface of 

 tbe water; very slowly be made bis way to tbe nearest tree, wbere be aligbted, 

 on tbe lowest limb, to recover bis spent strengtb. 



William Brewster (1880) says that on the Virginia coast — 



Geese and Brant form tbeir favorite food, and tbe address displayed in tboir 

 capture is very remarkable. Tbe poor victim bas apparently not tbe sligbtest 

 cliance for escape. Tbe Eagle's fligbt, ordinarily slow and somewhat heavy, 

 becomes, in tbe excitement of pursuit, exceedingly swift and graceful, and tbe 

 fugitive is quickly overtaken. When close upon its quarry tbe Eagle suddenly 

 sweeps beneath it, and, turning back downward, thrusts its powerfvfl talons into 

 its breast. A Brant or Duck is curried off bodily to tbe nearest marsh or 

 sand-bar, but a Canada Goose is too heavy to be thus easily disposed of. Tbe 

 two great birds fall together to tbe water beneath, wbere tbe Eagle literally tows 

 bis prize along tbe surface until tbe shore is reached. In tbis way one bas 

 been known to drag a large Goose for nearly half a mile. 



W. W. Worthington wrote to Major Bendire (1892) as follows: 



The other day I noticed a Bald Eagle hovering over tbe sound, much the 

 same as tbe Fish Hawk does wlien about to strike a fish. Suddenly be 

 plunged down and grappled witb what I supposed to be a large fish, but was 

 unable to raise it from tbe water, and after struggling awhile be lay witb 

 wings extended and apparently exbausted. After resting a minute or two 

 be again raised himself out of the water and I saw be bad some large black 

 object in tbe grasp of one of bis talons, which be succeeded in towing along 

 tbe top of tbe water toward tbe shore a short distance, and then letting go bis 

 bold. He was then joined by two other Eagles and by taking turn they soon 

 succeeded in getting it to the shore. Investigation proved it to be a large 

 Florida Cormorant, on which they were about to regale themselves. 



During most of the year fish of various kinds furnish the eagle's 

 main food supply. Many are picked up dead on the beaches or 

 along the shores of lakes and streams, as these eagles are good scav- 

 engers. The osprey is systematically robbed, as nearly every ob- 

 server or writer has noted. The eagle, from some favorable perch, 

 watches for the return to its nest of this industrious fisherman, 

 heavily laden with its prey. As the eagle starts in pursuit, the 

 osprey mounts into the air in an endeavor to escape, but the eagle 

 is too swift and too powerful for him, and the weaker bird is eventu- 

 ally forced to drop his prize, which his pursuer often dives down 

 and catches before it falls to the ground. Sometimes the struggle 

 is quite prolonged, but rarely does the osprey escape. Sometimes the 

 eagle fails to catch the falling fish and it may be lost to both birds. 

 Occasionally two eagles join in the chase, when the osprey soon gives 

 up. Mr. Nicholson says in his notes: "I heard the angry cries of 



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