LOUISIANA. 2S9 



jneH: was placed, was a very tall one, they came 

 for hatchets to cut it down ; they were indeed 

 well paid for their trouble, for they found a 

 great quantity of game of ail kinds in the neitj 

 fuch as fawns, rabbets, wild turkies, grbus, 

 partridges, and wood-pigeons, there were four 

 eaglets in it, already pretty flrong ; thefc the In- 

 dians took for themfelves, to the great forrow 

 of their parents, who would have picked out 

 their eyes, if the Indians had not been ar;ned 

 with mufkets ; the poor birds were quite furious^ 

 and the eagle is very juftly called the king of 

 the birds on account of his intrepidity; but the 

 balls did not fpare their feathered majefties, who 

 Vol. I. U fell 



Account a ftrohg proof againll: M. Biiffons opinion, that the 

 golden eagle has no more thaii two eaglets, feldom three, 

 tiever four. This will be a warning to dl naturaliils, not 

 too much to rely upon the afTertions of that French natural 

 hiilorian, who, with all his abilities, indulges too much 

 his opinions, in fpite oF fa^ls that are againll him. I 

 know and acknowledge the merit of this able zoologill, but 

 as his fine language, the fine prints* the vanity of the 

 French nation, and the prelent falhionable tafte, have prq"- 

 cured him a high reputation, it is no more than natural that 

 his authority fhould be decifive with many, who like rather 

 tight fummer-reading, than the keavineis of a critical difcuf- 

 fioti in natural hillory. I therefore thought, that fuch a 

 hint might be ferviceable to thofe whom M, dn Bu£u7z wonii 

 tarry a-llray by his florid ftyle. F. 



