THE EAGLE. 13 



than the inspired bards of the sacred page. We 

 might give many instances, but we will only 

 select the following admirable passage from the 

 graphic pen of the patriarch Job: "Doth the 

 eagle mount up at thy command, and make her 

 nest on high ? She dwelleth and abideth on the 

 rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong 

 place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and 

 her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck 

 up blood ; and where the slain are, there is she." 

 The strength of wing which enables these noble 

 birds to mount on high, and make their dwelling 

 in the rock, also gives them power to traverse 

 league after league, to an immense extent, in 

 pursuit of their needful food, which is often to 

 be sought in some remote valley or forest glade, 

 or on some distant shore. Soaring along on 

 wide-extended wings, the eagle darts a piercing 

 glance over the vast tracts of country spread far 

 beneath, and beholds the prey afar off: then 

 down he sweeps through the pure aether with 

 the speed of an arrow, fastens on his helpless 

 victim, and carries it off in his talons, unless its 

 weight is unusually great. In this case, he re- 

 mains on the spot to satisfy his hunger, and 

 leaves the remnants of his feast to any bird or 

 beast that may chance to be attracted by it. He 

 himself never returns a second time to feed on a 



