10 SPORT IX NORTH AMERICA. 



and the beak and claws are of a disproportionate 

 length. The parents do not allow them to fly until 

 their plumage is complete ; but when that happens, 

 they brmg their progeny out without delay. The 

 parents supply them during their early days with an 

 abundance of all sorts of food, so that the borders 

 of the nest are usually a mass of fragments of stink- 

 ing flesh, bones, and ordure. 



One evening in the month of February, I was 

 returning from a long bout at trout-fishing in the 

 Cumberland mountains, and, with two friends was 

 joui'neying along a pass, below which, down in the 

 valley, was a farm-house, where we intended staying. 

 Presently, I pointed out to my companions the 

 traces of a bird of ]}Yej. The peasant who accom- 

 panied us told me at once that there were eagles in 

 the rocks, and he declared that he had seen them 

 the evening before, but out of gun-shot. " The 

 villains," said he, "they have eaten more of my 

 master's fowls and lambs than they are worth 

 dollars." On hearing this, I determined to seize 

 the opportunity of studpng the habits of the 

 American eagle, and so we placed ourselves in 

 ambush under a hollow of the rock, and remained 

 there for some time. As we waited I had to 

 impose silence upon the peasant, who continued to 

 pour into our ears his account of the evil deeds 

 of the eagles, and to objurgate the race in general. 

 A Yankee friend who was of the party, assured me 



