THE BALD-HEADED AMERICAN EAGLE. 



had ceased to struggle, she seemed to understand 

 that the banquet was about to begin, so dashing 

 across the river in a twinkling, she set to work with- 

 out asking leave or waiting for an invitation. I had 

 waited for this moment to take my part in the 

 matter, so I ordered m}- niggers to row gently 

 towards the bank, where the two birds of prey thought 

 themselves so secure from punishment. Without 

 paying the slightest attention to our movements, thev 

 continued to gorge themselves with the blood and 

 fragments of the flesh of the swan, so that we soon 

 came within range. My gun was charged with buck 

 shot, and I aimed and fired. The shot Avas a good 

 one: the female never stirred; both the wings of 

 the male were broken, and we had to kill him b}'- 

 knocking him on the head with the paddles. We 

 did this as carefully as possible, for I intended 

 having them both stuffed and did not Avish to 

 spoil the skin. In this I succeeded admirabl}', 

 and here" (added the narrator, opening the door of 

 his dining-room, and leading the way into it) "here 

 are the two murderous ruffians of the Mississippi, 

 stuffed and set up by one of our cleverest taxi- 

 dermists." 



I admired the beauty of those two magnificent 

 specimens of the large eagle, commonly called the 

 Eagle of the States, or Bald-headed Eagle. The 

 head is well furnished with feathers, but, as they 

 are white, at a certain distance he seems to be bald. 



