WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 85 



numerous carcasses of squirrels, deer, bear, and various other animals, 

 that, in their attempts to cross the river, above the falls, have been 

 dragged into the current, and precipitated down that tremendous gulf; 

 where among the rocks that bound the rapids below, they furnish a rich 

 repast for the Vulture, the Raven, and the Bald Eagle, the subject of 

 the present account. 



This bird has been long known to naturalists, being common to both 

 continents ; and occasionally met with from a very high northern 

 latitude, to the borders of the torrid zone, but chiefly in the vicinity 

 of the sea, and along the shores and clifis of our lakes and large rivers. 

 Formed by nature for braving the severest cold ; feeding equally on 

 the produce of the sea, and of the land ; possessing powers of flight, 

 capable of outstripping even the tempests themselves ; unawed by any- 

 thing but man, and, from the ethereal heights to which he soars, looking 

 abroad at one glance, on an immeasurable expanse of forests, fields, 

 lakes and ocean, deep below him ; he appears indiff"erent to the little 

 localities of change of seasons ; as in a few minutes he can pass from 

 summer to winter, from the lower to the higher regions of the atmo- 

 sphere, the abode of eternal cold ; and thence descend at will to the 

 torrid or the arctic regions of the earth. He is therefore found at all 

 seasons in the countries he inhabits ; but prefers such places as have 

 been mentioned above, from the great partiality he has for fish. 



In procuring these he displays, in a very singular manner, the genius 

 and energy of his character, which is fierce, contemplative, daring and 

 tyrannical ; attributes not exerted but on particular occasions ; but 

 when put forth, overpowering all opposition. Elevated on a high dead 

 limb of some gigantic tree, that commands a wide view of the neigh- 

 boring shore and ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of 

 the various feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocations below : 

 the snow-white Gulls, slowly winnowing the air ; the busy Tringse, 

 coursing along the sands ; trains of Ducks, streaming over the surface ; 

 silent and watchful Cranes, intent and wading ; clamorous Crows, and 

 all the winged multitudes that subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid 

 matrazine of nature. High over all these hovers one, whose action 

 instantly arrests all his attention. By his wide curvature of wing, and 

 sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be the Fish-Hawk settling over 

 some devoted victim of the deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and 

 balancing himself, with half-opened wings, on the branch, he watches 

 the result. Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant 

 object of his attention, the roar of its wings reaching the ear as it dis- 

 appears in the deep, making the surges foam around ! At this moment 

 the eager looks of the Eagle are all ardor ; and levelling his neck for 

 flight, he sees the Fish-Hawk once more emerge, struggling with hi3 

 prey, and mounting in the air with screams of exultation. These are 



