THE EAGLE. 



109 



is, in a part of America called Louisiana, ornamented with the 

 feathers of a particularly beautiful and rare species of White 

 Eagle, called the Conciliating Eagle. In another part of 

 America called California, and indeed amongst many other tribes 

 of that vast continent, the Indians, when in their full dress, 

 wear an Eagle's feather fastened to the top of their heads as a 

 mark of nobility ; and singularly enough a similar custom 

 prevailed, and, on occasions of ceremony, still prevails amongst 

 the Highland chiefs of Scotland, handed down from time 

 immemorial : the plume of the Erne, or Great Sea Eagle, 

 being the distinguishing mark of the head of a clan, and even 

 of the kings of Scotland. Many of our readers will, doubt- 

 less, remember the beautiful passage of Sir Walter Scott, in 

 the Lady of the Lake, when 



"Fitz James alone wore cap and plume, 

 And Snowdown's knight was Scotland's king." 



Great Sea Eagle, or Bird of Washington, feeding its young. 



