THE EAGLE. 105 



fact occurred ; an Eagle caught up an infant lying at a 

 little distance from its mother, and carried it to its nest, 

 situated on a point of high rock, so steep that the bold- 

 est bird-catchers had never ventured to attempt to climb 

 it ; the mother, however, ascended and reached the nest, 

 but alas ! too late : the child was dead, and its eyes torn 

 out. But the most striking story we have met with, is 

 the brave behaviour of a little boy in America : it oc- 

 curred in the parish of St. Ambrose, near New York. 

 Two boys, the one seven and the other five years old, 

 were amusing themselves by trying to reap, while their 

 parents were at dinner. A large Eagle soon came sail- 

 ing over them, and with a sudden swoop attempted to 

 seize the eldest, but luckily missed him. The bird, not 

 at all dismayed, alighted at a short distance, and in a 

 few moments repeated his attempt. This bold little 

 fellow, however, gallantly defended himself with his 

 sickle, which he fortunately held in his hand, and when 

 the bird rushed upon him resolutely struck at it. The 

 sickle entered under the left wing, and the blow having 

 been given strongly, went through the ribs, and piercing 

 the liver, proved fatal. On opening the bird's stomach, 

 it was found entirely empty, which may explain in some 

 degree the cause of so unusual an attack. The brave 

 little boy did not receive a scratch, though there can be 

 little doubt, that had the bird not been weakened by 

 hunger, a blow or two from its sharp strong beak would 

 have penetrated through the skull into the brain, and 

 caused instant death. 



Eagles of this particular sort are very common in that 

 part of the country, and are often known to carry off a 

 Turkey, or even a Goose, but this was the first instance 

 of their attacking children, though in New South Wales 

 a celebrated navigator, Captain Flinders, met with some- 

 thing of the same sort. He was walking with some of 

 his officers, when a large Eagle, with a fierce aspect and 

 outspread wing, was seen bounding towards them ; but 

 stopping short at about twenty yards off, he flew up 



