HAWKS AND EAGLES. 387 



by anything but man ; and from the ethereal heights to which 

 he soars, looking abroad, at one glance, on an immeasurable 

 expanse of forests, fields, lakes and ocean, deep below him, 

 he appears indifferent to the little localities of change and of sea- 

 sons ; as in a few minutes he can pass from summer to winter, 

 from the lower to the higher regions of the atmosphere, the 

 abode of eternal cold, and from thence descend at will to the 

 torrid or the arctic regions of the earth. He is therefore 

 found at all seasons in the countries he inhabits ; but prefers 

 such places as have been mentioned above, from the great 

 partiality he has for fish. 



"In procuring these he displays, in a very singular manner, 

 the genius and energy of his character, which is fierce, con- 

 templative, daring, and tyrannical ; attributes not exerted 

 but on particular occasions; but when put forth, over- 

 powering all opposition. Elevated on the high dead limb of 

 some gigantic tree that commands a wide view of the neigh- 

 boring shore and ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the 

 motions of the various feathered tribes that pursue their busy 

 avocations below : the snow-white Gulls slowly winnowing the 

 air ; the busy Tringae coursing along the sands ; trains of 

 Ducks streaming over the surface ; silent and watchful Cranes, 

 intent and wading ; clamorous Crows, and all the winged 

 multitudes that subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid mag- 

 azine of nature. High over all these hovers one whose action 

 instantly arrests all his attention. By his wide curvature of 

 wing, and sudden suspension in the air, he knows him to be 

 the Fish Hawk, settling over some devoted victim of the 

 deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and balancing himself, 

 with half open wings, on the branch, he watches the result. 

 Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant 

 object of his attention, the roar of its wings reaching his ear 

 as it disappears in the deep, making the surges foam around ! 

 At this moment the eager looks of the Eagle are all ardor ; and 

 leveling his neck for flight, he sees the Fish Hawk once more 

 emerge, struggling with his prey, and mounting in the air 

 with screams of exultation. These are the signal for our 

 hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chase, soon 



