EAGLES. 565 



When the young are large enough to provide for their wants they 

 are driven from the paternal home ; when they proceed to an un- 

 occupied district of country, of which they take possession. 



The Eagle is, as we have before said, endowed with immense 

 muscular vigour ;; it is, therefore, able to carry off prey of considerable 

 size. In the mountains in which chamois are abundant they are the 

 principal objects of the eagle's pursuit, and it employs various strata- 

 gems to get these animals into its power; for the bird will not venture 

 to make its attack in front, as the chamois is well able to bid it 

 defiance with its horns, provided its rear is protected. 



It is stated that a blow from an Eagle's wing will deprive a kid of 

 life ; it is not therefore surprising that its strength enables it to carry 

 off young children. 



Many for a long period have refused to give credence to this fact; 

 but the evidence of persons who are worthy of all confidence will not 

 allow of any doubt being raised on the subject. We will, however, 

 mention a few instances. 



In the Canton of Vaud two little girls, one three years old and the 

 other five, were playing together in a meadow. An Eagle swooped 

 down upon the eldest, and carried her off. All that immediately 

 afterwards could be found upon a most active search was a shoe and 

 stocking belonging to the child. Two months having elapsed, a 

 shepherd discovered the remains of the little victim, horribly muti- 

 lated, and lying upon a rock half a league from the meadow from 

 which she was taken. 



In the Isle of Skye, in Scotland, a woman left her child in a field. 

 An Eagle carried off the little one in its talons, and crossing over a 

 broad lake, laid it upon a rock. Fortunately the robber was perceived 

 by some shepherds, who came up in time to succour the infant. 



In Sweden a babe was carried away under somewhat similar 

 circumstances. The mother, who was only a short distance off, 

 heard the shrieks of the poor little thing ; but it was impossible for 

 her to rescue it. It was borne out of her sight, and the wretched 

 woman went mad with grief. 



In the Canton of Geneva a boy of ten years old, who was robbing 

 an Eagle's nest, was seized by one of the birds, and borne to a point 

 600 yards from the spot. He was rescued by his companions without 

 having suffered further injury than some severe wounds inflicted by 

 the bird's talons. 



In the Faroe Isles an Eagle flew away with a child (which its 

 mother had left for a few moments), and bore it off to its eyrie. 

 Maternal love inspired the unfortunate woman with such a degree 



