LETTER XLIII. 



" High from the summit of a crnggy cliff, 

 Hung o'er the deep, such as amazing frown* 

 On utmost Kilda's shore, wfcose lonely race 



Resign the setting son to Indian worlds, 



The royal eagle draws his vigorous young, 

 Strong-pounc'd, and ardent with paternal fire; 

 Now, fit to raise a kingdon of their own, 

 He drives them from his fort, the towering scat, 

 For ages, ot his empire." 



THOMSON. 

 DEAR SIR, 



X SHALT, now proceed to give you a view of the 

 rapacious tribe of birds which reign masters of the 

 airy regions, in the same manner as the beasts of prey 

 among quadrupeds domineer over the other animals 

 that inhabit the forest, and no doubt but you will be 

 well pleased to contemplate the powers and faculties 

 of the eagie, vviiich, under the denomination of the 

 bird of Jove, has so frequently been introduced by 

 poets for the illustration or embellishment of their 

 subjects, 



THE GOLDEN EAGLE * 



i? the largest and noblest of all the feathered tyrants 

 or' this race; and has obtained among birds the same 

 pre-eminence which the lion is allowed to possess 

 among the quadruped tribes. From the point of the 

 till to the extremity of the tail, it measures more 

 than three feet, and about eight feet in breadth, when 

 its wings are extended. The weight of the female is 

 from sixteen to eighteen pounds; but the male is 

 smaller, and does not commonly exceed twelve 

 pounds. The eagle possesses in an eminent degree 

 the faculty of vision: its eye is remarkably keen 

 and penetrating, although deep sunk and covered 

 by a projecting brow; and the iris, being of a fine 

 bright yellow, shines with extraordinary lustre. Its 

 general colour is a deep brown, mixed with tawny 

 on the head and neck. The tail is black, and spot- 



