Bald Eagle 221 



nor the most enterprising of birds, as one fain 

 would believe. On the contrary, it often uses 

 its wonderful eyesight to detect a bird more 

 skilful than itself in the act of catching a fish, 

 and then puts forth its superb strength to rob 

 the successful fisher of his prey. The osprey 

 is a frequent sufferer, although some of the 

 water fowl, that patiently course over the waves 

 hour after hour, in search of a dinner, may be 

 robbed of it by the overpowering pirate. Dead 

 fish cast up on the beach are not rejected. 

 When fish fail, coots, ducks, geese and gulls — 

 the fastest of flyers — are likely to be snatched 

 up, plucked clean of their feathers, and torn 

 apart by the great bird that drops suddenly 

 upon them from the clouds like Jove's thimder- 

 bolt. Rarely small animals are seized, but 

 there is probably no well-authenticated case of 

 an eagle carrying off a child. 



It is in their family life that hawks and 

 eagles, however cruel at other times, show some 

 truly lovable traits. Once mated, they know 

 neither divorce nor family quarrels all their lives. 

 Home is the dearest spot on earth to them. 

 They become passionately attached to the 

 great bundle of trash that is at once their nest 

 and their abode. A tall pine tree, near water, 

 or the rocky ledge of some steep cliff, is the 

 favourite site for an eagle eyrie. Here the de- 

 voted mates will carry an immense quantity of 



