176 INSESSORES. 
water, and who has descended from his elevation just 
in time to force the poor bird again to take refuge 
beneath the water almost before he has taken breath; 
and thus by repeated attacks the duck becomes wea- 
ried, and swims for the shore, where he is easily cap- 
tured by the Eagles, who divide the dainty morsel 
between them. 
Fish also constitutes a considerable portion of the 
food of the Bald Eagle, and to the vicinity of the 
sea or other large bodies of water they often resort 
for the purpose of obtaining it. Here one may some- 
times be seen “ fishing,” as the boys say, “ upon his 
own hook,” but much more frequently does he sup- 
ply himself and young with food by robbing the in- 
dustrious Fish Hawk of the fruits of his honest toil. 
The scene thus enacted is often of a very interesting 
and exciting character, and is thus graphically de- 
scribed by Wilson’: “ Elevated on the high dead limb 
of some gigantic tree that commands a wide view of 
the neighboring shore and ocean, the Eagle 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 Frings coursing along the sands; trains 
of Ducks streaming over the surface; silent and watch- 
ful Cranes, intent and wading; clamorous Crows; and 
all the winged multitudes that subsist by the bounty 
of this vast liquid magazine of Nature. High over 
all these hovers one, whose action instantly arrests 
his whole attention. By his wide curvature of wing, 
and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be 
