STOETES ABOUT BIRDS. 137 



vented from turning his "head to bite, and with 

 the other grasped one of his flanks, at the same 

 time driving its talons into the dog's body. 

 In this attitude the bird continued, until its 

 victim expired, with fruitless cries and efforts. 

 The beak, which up to this time had been 

 unemployed, was now used for making a small 

 hole in the skin. This was gradually enlarged ; 

 and from this the bird began to tear away and 

 devour the flesh, and went on till it was satis- 

 fied. So much for the story. AVe cannot help 

 thinking, by the way, that the abbe, who Avit- 

 nessed this feat, might have satisfied his curi- 

 osity in a manner rather more humane. The 

 poor brutes have to suffer a great deal for the 

 cause of science. ~No doubt they would be 

 happier, if such a thing as science was un- 

 known. 



A man in Connecticut shot an eagle of the 

 largest kind. The bird fell to the ground, and, 

 being only wounded, the man carried him 

 home alive. He took good care of him, and 

 he soon got well. He became quite attached 

 to the family in which he was adopted ; and 

 though he was permitted to have his liberty, 

 and often flew away to a considerable distance 

 from the house, he always came back again. 

 It was his custom to take his station in the 



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