LE VAILr.ANx's OS TREY, 105 



as our rcatler, by this lime, may begin to wonder with what it has to do, 

 it may be proper to state, that we propose to close this present chapter 

 here, making it an introduction for some instructions to those, who may 

 be planning an expedition against the wild tribes of nature, and, as the 

 title of Laws of Congress often recites with a broad meaning, "-for other 

 purposes." F. 



LE VAILLANT's OSPREY, 



The following story, told by Le Vailhmt in a foot note to liis 0/s'- 

 enux jyjifriqup^ appeared to be so characteristic, Vv'hilst reading it over 

 the oilier day, that we were induced to give it a rough transfusion into 

 Englisli, and offer it to the Record : He says : 



"Whilst walking on the extended common, near GeneviUiers near 

 the suburbs of Paris, I was witness to a combat between a half score of 

 thrushes, and an eagle, whose species is the osprey, ossifraga of the an- 

 cients. Completely beaten, vanquished, he took refuge in a thicket, 

 where he squatted down near a stump. Attracted by the repeated cries 

 and unceasing flutter among the thrushes, whose motions announced 

 something extraordinary, I approached and was astonished to find, that 

 it was an eagle with wliich they liad to deal. Having no gun with me, 

 aware tliat 1 was encroaching upon the limits of the royal chase, still 

 unable to resist so fine an occasion of procuring a bird, which my col- 

 lection yet wanted, I ran home, my dwelling at that time being at Asni-' 

 eres, a village situated near the place of which I speak. I provided my- 

 self with a pistol loaded with a large ball — a gun would have exposed 

 me too much — and, regaining the common, J reached tlie thicket which 

 contained the object of my desires, where I found my eagle still a pris- 

 oner to the thrushes, which had not relaxed their guard in tlie slightest 

 manner. There, braving the jealous ear of the inflexible patrol, and the 

 atrociously exclusive game laws, my heart beating with fear and inquie- 

 tude, I approached the feathered poltroon within ten paces, and, with a 

 well adjusted aim, I fired upon the spot. Immediately burying my pistol, 

 and concealing my eagle among the bushes, I sallied out of the enclosure 

 which contained my treasure. With eager eye, I looked around, and ev- 

 ery man I perceived sauntering over the common or upon the road ap- 

 peared to me to be crossed with the fearful shoulder belt embroidered 

 w'llhjleurs de lis. But for once, the vigilance of the guard was at fault. 

 Seeing nothing which could cause me uneasiness, I wrapped up my prize, 

 and stealthilj- gained my apartment, where, elated with my contjuest, I 

 called my neighbors in to be witness of my triumph. This eagle still 

 14 



