110 THE EAGLE. 



The Vulture, too, floats on a prey of a very different 

 description. In the rivers of the East, says a traveller*, 

 one is constantly shocked with the sight of a floating 

 corpse, with a Vulture perched upon it, and expanding 

 its wings to cause it to land, that it may devour its 

 horrid meal in leisure. 



From what has been said, it will be readily believed, 

 that they are most voracious in their appetites. These 

 large fish-eaters have been known to consume a bucket- 

 full a day; and, as if aware at the same time of the un- 

 certainty of always insuring a supply, particulerly when 

 they have, in addition to their own wants, their young to 

 provide for, they are in the habit of collecting an over- 

 abundance on the high rocks where their nests are 

 situated, so as to have an ample stock in hand. And so 

 well aware are the North American Indians of these 

 stores, that an Eagle's nest is familiarly called an Indian's 

 larder; from which the wild hunters can readily supply 

 themselves, at least during the breeding and rearing 

 season, from May to September with a plentiful store of 

 hares, ducks, and geese, besides fisht. 



In England, though large Eagles are now very rare, 

 naturalists have met with similar instances. Mr. Wil- 

 loughby, an excellent authority, mentions a nest which 

 he saw in the woodlands, near the river Derwent, in the 

 Peak of Derbyshire, about 150 years ago; he described 

 it as about two yards square, formed of great sticks, 

 resting one end on the ledge of a rock, and the other on 

 two birch-trees, upon which was a layer of rushes, and 

 over them a layer of heath, and upon the heath rushes 

 again, upon which lay one young one, and an addle 

 egg, and by them a lamb and a hare, and three heath- 

 poults. 



But the most particular and curious account of one 

 of these Eagle nest-larders, is related by a gentleman 

 who was visiting at a friend's house in Scotland, near 



* Transatlantic Sketches, vol. ii. 

 t HEARME'S Journey. 



