150 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



The eagle being defeated, darted away toward 

 a distant hill, evidently happy to make his 

 escape." 



The eagle is called the king of the birds; 

 and he is rightly named, I think, judging from 

 the stories which have been told about him. 

 Wilson says, " I have seen the bald eagle, while 

 seated on the body of a dead horse, keep a 

 whole flock of vultures at a respectful distance, 

 until he had entirely satisfied his own appe- 

 tite;" and he tells us, also, that he knew an- 

 other instance of the kingly power of this bird. 

 Many thousands of squirrels had been drowned 

 in attempting, while emigrating, to cross the 

 Ohio river. The vultures had a fine time of it 

 for weeks. But the sudden appearance of the 

 eagle among them put a stop to their feasting, 

 and drove them to a considerable distance from 

 the spot. The eagle held sole possession of 

 the prey for several days, and not a vulture 

 dare venture near him. 



