72 HISTORY or 



tamed. It requires great patience and much art 

 to tame an eagle ; and even though taken young, 

 and brought under by long assiduity, yet still it 

 is a dangerous domestic, and often turns its force 

 against its master. When brought into the field 

 for the purposes of fowling, the falconer is never 

 sure of its attachment : that innate pride, and 

 love of liberty, still prompt it to regain its native 

 solitudes; and the moment the falconer sees it, 

 when let loose, first stoop towards the ground, 

 and then rise perpendicularly into the clouds, he 

 gives up all his former labour for lost, quite sure 

 of never beholding his late prisoner more. Some- 

 times, however, they are brought to have an at- 

 tachment for their feeder ; they are then highly 

 serviceable, and liberally provide for his pleasures 

 and support. When the falconer lets them go from 

 his hand, they play about and hover round him 

 till their game presents, which they see at an im- 

 mense distance, and pursue with certain destruc- 

 tion. 



Of all animals the eagle flies highest ; and from 

 thence the ancients have given him the epithet 

 of the bird of Heaven. Of all others also, he has 

 the quickest eye ; but his sense of smelling is far 

 inferior to that of the vulture. He never pur- 

 sues, therefore, but in sight ; and when he has 

 seized his prey, he stoops from his height, as if 

 to examine its weight, always laying it on the 

 ground before he carries it off. As his wing is 

 very powerful, yet as he has but little suppleness 

 in the joints of the leg, he finds it difficult to rise 

 when down j however, if not instantly pursued, 



