



WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 47 



northern latitude, to the borders of the torrid zone, but chiefly 

 in the vicinity of the sea, and along the shores and cliffs of our 

 lakes and large rivers. Formed by nature for braving the se- 

 verest cold ; feeding equally on the produce of the sea, and of 

 the land; possessing powers of flight, capable of outstripping 

 even the tempests themselves; unawed by any thing 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 of seasons; as in a few minutes he can 

 pass from summer to winter, from the lower to the higher re- 

 gions of the atmosphere, the abode of eternal cold; and 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, contem- 

 plative, daring and tyrannical; attributes not exerted but on 

 particular occasions; but when put forth, overpowering all op- 

 position. Elevated on a high dead limb of some gigantic tree, 

 that commands a wide view of the neighbouring shore and 

 ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the va- 

 rious 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 magazine of nature. High over 

 all these hovers one, whose action instantly arrests all his atten- 

 tion. By his wide curvature of wing, and sudden suspension 

 in 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-opened wings, on the branch, he 

 watches the result. Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, de- 

 scends the distant object of his attention, the roar of its wings 



