272 Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



ing water-fowl, and as the lakes are usually surrounded 

 by a dense growth of timber, the eagle can capture its 

 prey with comparaiive ease. When food is thus abundant 

 and can be procured with little endeavor, the eagle gives 

 way to a spirit of lazy contentment, seldom making those 

 lofty aerial flights which have given it a reputation 

 synonymous with unresting aspiration. Here it flies low 

 and goes only a short distance at one time, except when 

 frequently shot at by misguided hunters. Then it mounts 

 in the circling, soaring flight common to the larger liawks, 

 and ascending until it strains our powerof sight to follow its 

 course, floats for hours in the distant blue depths, forgetful 

 of the petty annoyances of earth, and giving us a more 

 exalted idea of its resources and strength. In such moods 

 it is a worthy symbol of our nation, and proudly confirms 

 its right to the title of "Bird of Washington," given to it 

 by Audubon on first meeting an individual in the gray 

 plumage and supposing it to be a new species. 



Though the bald eagle is so widely distributed over 

 North America, and resident throughout the year wherever 

 found, there are many localities where it seldom or never 

 nests; and there its appearance is noted only when it 

 makes its longer excursions from the neighborhood of its 

 eyrie. It does not usually nest far away from the sea, 

 lakes, or rivers, as its dependence upon fish for its chief 

 food supply leads it to establish its home within easy 

 reach of well-stocked waters. It is a persistent parasite 

 of the osprey. The fact that the eagle frequently despoils 

 the fish hawk of its hard-earned prey is well known to 

 all who have road careful accounts of the two species, or 

 who have extensively observed the habits of either. The 

 eagle does not always seem to be impelled solely by hunger 

 when it launches forth in pursuit of the osprey, laden 

 with its recently captured prey. Sometimes the motive 

 is apparently a spirit of wanton cruelty and malicious 

 pleasure; for frequently, when it has caused the defeated 

 and despairing fish hawk to drop its burden, the eagle 

 will make no effort to secure the morsel for its own use, 

 merely turning away from the chase with the air of a 

 gunner who has killed a bird which he di.sdains to place 

 in his gamebag. Often, however, the eagle will swoop 



