IOO 



THE EAGLE. 



But, besides warm-blooded animals and birds, most, if not 

 all, the Eagle tribe will readily feed on fish; some sorts, 

 indeed, prefer them, and live in the neighbourhood of large 

 lakes on the seashore. 



Some of these birds are gifted with such extraordinary 

 clearness of sight, that from a great height in the air they 

 will distinguish fish swimming near the surface, and, shooting 

 down with the speed and straightness of an arrow's course, 

 will plunge into the water, and seize them with their talons. 

 Often, however, they have no reason to boast of their success, 

 for, when carrying off their prize, a larger Eagle, generally on 

 the look-out, gives chase, and forces them to drop the fish, 



Eagle. 



which, the other catches before it reaches the water. This 

 larger bird, however, is himself sometimes made prisoner by 

 the singular mode he practises of providing for his meals. 

 The following is not the only instance with which we are 

 acquainted, but as it is sanctioned by the authority of a 

 respectable Scotch clergyman, we give it at full length, in 

 preference to others we have met with. The anecdote is told 

 of the Erne, or White-tailed Eagle. A halibut, a large flat- 

 fish, resembling a turbot, reposing on or near the surface of 



