CLEMENCY OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 29 



spot for a few days, and then returns with a new mate. As the rabbits and hares are gener- 

 ally under cover during the day, the Eagle is forced to drive them from their place of conceal- 

 ment, and manages the matter in a very clever and sportsmanlike manner. One of the Eagles 

 conceals itself near the cover which is to be beaten, and its companion then dashes among the 

 bushes, screaming and making such a disturbance that the terrified inmates rush out in hopes 

 of escape, and are immediately pounced upon by the watchful confederate. 



The prey is immediately taken to the nest, and distributed to the young, if there should 

 be any eaglets in the lofty cradle. It is a rather remarkable fact, that whereas the vultures 

 feed their young by disgorging the food which they have taken into their crops, the Eagles 

 carry the prey to their nests, and there tear it to pieces, and feed the eaglets with the morsels. 



When in pursuit of its prey it is a most audacious bird, having been seen to carry off a 

 hare from before the noses of the hounds. It is a keen fisherman, catching and securing 

 salmon and various sea-fish with singular skill. Sometimes it has met with more than its 

 match, and has seized upon a fish that was too heavy for its powers, thus falling a victim to 

 its sporting propensities. Mr. Lloyd mentions several instances where Eagles have been 

 drowned by pouncing upon large pike, which carried their assailants under water, and fairly 

 drowned them. In more than one instance the feet of an Eagle have been seen firmly clenched 

 in the pike's back, the body of the bird having decayed and fallen away. 



It is a terrible fighter when wounded or attacked, as may be seen by the following anec- 

 dote, which is related by Mr. Watters in his " Natural History of the Birds of Ireland." 



"An Eagle was at one time captured in the county Meath by a gamekeeper, who, surpris- 

 ing the bird sleeping after a surfeit on a dead' sheep in the neighborhood, conceived the idea 

 of taking him alive, and for that purpose approached noiselessly, and clasped the bird in his 

 arms. The Eagle recovering, and unable to use his wings, clutched with his talons, one of 

 which entered the man's chest, the hind claw meeting the others underneath the flesh. The 

 man, unable to disengage the claw, strangled the bird, but the talons were yet too firmly 

 clutched to open. Taking out his knife, he severed the leg from the body, and walked with 

 the penetrating member to the village dispensary to have it removed." 



The same writer was acquainted with a tame Eagle which displayed a great fondness for 

 the flesh of cats, a taste which seems inherent in the Eagle nature, and to have been noticed 

 in every specimen of tame Eagles. In every case, as soon as an irritated cat came within 

 reach, the Eagle would pounce upon it, seize it in his talons, and with one gripe destroy its 

 life so effectually that the poor animal never had time even to cry out. The bird indulged 

 this cat-eating taste to such an extent that he caused sad havoc among the feline tribe, and 

 was forced at last to go into exile. 



Many anecdotes of tame Golden Eagles are on record, but as they are already familiar to 

 the public, I shall make no mention of them. The following account, however, has never 

 before been written, and as it displays a curious trait of character in the Eagle, is worthy of 

 insertion. 



A Golden Eagle had been captured in Scotland, and being very tame, always accompanied 

 the family to which it belonged in all their journeys. For some time it lived near Clifton, 

 where it passed its existence fastened to a post by a tolerably long chain, that allowed it a 

 reasonable freedom of motion. Like other tame Eagles, she for it was of the feminine sex 

 would persist in killing cats if they came within reach, although her ordinary food was fowls, 

 rabbits, and similar articles of diet. On one occasion, a sickly, pining chicken, which seemed 

 in a very bod state of health, was given to ths Eagle. The royal bird, however, refused to eat 

 it, but seemed to be struck with pity at its miserable state, and took it under her protection. 

 She even made it sit under her wing, which she extended as a shield, and once when a man 

 unkindly endeavored to take her protege away, she attacked him fiercely, injuring his leg 

 severely, and drove him fairly off her premises. She several times built a rude nest, but never 

 laid an egg. 



There is no doubt but that this beautiful bird might be tamed as readily as the falcon, 

 and trained in a similar manner to fly at game. Indeed, such instances are not wanting both 

 in ancient and modern times. The old hawking authorities did not place much value on 



