203 



and returned the following day, after another." ("Vol. V. 1876, p. 

 195.) "A large White-headed Eagle swooped down on a flock 

 of sheep here (Hornellsville, New York) and made a break- 

 fast on lamb chops before he could be driven off." (Vol. X, 

 1878, p. 319.) "It (the Bald Eagle) was killed by a Mr. Towry, 

 near Smithville, Mississippi. When found by Mr. Towry it 

 had killed two of his hogs and was dining on one of them." 

 (Vol. VIII, 1877.) 



Dr. Fisher also refers to an article published in the 

 Forest and Stream (Vol. IV, 1875, p. 166) in which a 

 Bald Eagle was seen to fly five miles with a live lamb 

 in its talons. 



HOW THEY CAPTURE GEESE. 



Dr. Fisher reproduces from Bulletin of the Nuttall 

 Ornith. Club, the following very interesting note from 

 Mr. Wm, Brewster, and which refers to the manner 

 in which the Eagles catch wild-fowl in the vicinity of 

 Oobb's Island, Virginia: 



"In the winter the eagles are much more numerous than at 

 any other time of the year, and my informant has, on sev- 

 eral occasions, seen as many as eight at once. At this sea- 

 son the neighboring bays and creeks swarm with wild fowl, 

 and upon these the eagfes principally live. He has never 

 known them to catch fish of any kind, although they not 

 unfrequently rob the Fish Hawk. Geese and brant form 

 their favorite food, and the address displayed in their capture 

 is very remarkable. The poor victim has apparently not the 

 slightest chance for escape. The eagles flight, ordinarily 

 slow and somewhat heavy, becomes in the excitement of 

 pursuit exceedingly swift and graceful, and the fugitive is 

 quickly overtaken. When close upon its quarry the eagle sud- 

 denly sweeps beneath it. and, turning back downwards, 

 thrusts its powerful talons up into Its breast. A brant or 

 duck is carried off bodily to the nearest marsh or sand bar. 

 but a Canada goose is too heavy to be thus easily disposed 

 of. The two great birds fall together to the water beneath, 

 while the eagle fiterally tows his prize along the surface 

 until the shore is reached. In This way one has been known 

 to drag a large goose for nearly half a mile." 



WILL, SOMETIMES ATTACK MANKIND. 



If newspaper and numerous written accounts are 

 true (and unfortnnnlely many arc not") it would ap 

 ]>('ar that even man is not exemjn from the attacks 



