92 LEAVES FROM THE 



being brought to old Spain, is mentioned by Peter Martyr 

 of Angelina, who was secretary to the council of the 

 Indies, established immediately after the discovery of 

 America, and personally acquainted with Columbus. 



But, after all, the white-headed eagle is a bold fellow; 

 and ]\Ir. Gardiner relates, that when riding within five or 

 six rods of one, the bird, by raising his feathers and his 

 general defying demeanour, seemed willing to dispute the 

 ground with its owner. 



As for the vultures, the eagle treats them as so much 

 dirt ; and, indeed, they are little better. He has been 

 frequently seen to keep them at a respectful distance — 

 especially upon one occasion, when a whole colony of 

 hapless squirrels had been hurried down the falls of 

 Niagara — till he had completely satiated himself with the 

 harvest of death ; but, when pressed by hunger, he plays 

 the same game with a well-filled vulture as he does, ordi- 

 narily, with the fish-hawk, attacking it furiously, making 

 the cowardly glutton disgorge the carrion with which its 

 craw is crammed, and then snatching wp the dainty 

 contents. 



The nest in a state of nature is generally fixed on some 

 large, lofty tree, often in a swamp or morass ; and, if the 

 tree be a favourite, will there be continued for years in 

 succession. From being thus repaired and added to 

 every season, it becomes a dark prominent mass, catch- 

 ing the eye at a considerable distance. To form it, sticks, 

 sods, earthy rubbish, hay, moss, &c., are collected. The 

 eggs are two in number, and Wilson mentions a story 

 about the female laying a single egg first, and, after hav- 

 ing sat on it for some time, la}dng another. When the 

 first is hatched, the warmth of that, they say, hatches the 

 second. Upon the correctness of this tale Wilson de- 

 clines to determine ; but he relates, that a very respect- 

 able gentleman in Virginia assured him that he saw a 

 large tree cut down, containing the nest of a bald eagle, 



