EAGLES AND ART. 263 



checks its career, and reassumes its former steady flight. 

 When at an immense height, and as if observing an object 

 on the ground, it closes its wings, and glides through the 

 air with such rapidity as to cause a loud rustling sound, not 

 unlike that produced by a violent gust of wind passing 

 amongst the branches of trees. Its fall towards the earth 

 can scarcely be followed by the eye on such occasions, the 

 more particularly that these falls or glidings through the air 

 usually take place when they are least expected." 



Nothing can exceed the cool audacity and overbearing 

 vehemence of this bird, except perhaps the spirit of the 

 country it symbols. In powers of adaptation, versatility of 

 resource and sublimity of action, the resemblance is no less 

 complete, than in a mutual unscrupulousness and omnivor- 

 ous rapacity. 



Mr. Audubon quotes, with often-expressed approbation, 

 an opinion of Dr. Franklin in which the Sage expresses his 

 regret that the White-headed Eagle had been chosen as the 

 representative of our country, on the ground that it is a 

 plundering and dishonest bird. We, too, regret the fact 

 not that it has been chosen, but that it was most fit and ap- 

 propriate that it should have been. It is too late in the day 

 now for us to mince matters and talk of regret that the ty- 

 rannical Eobber of the Fish-Hawk should be emblazoned on 

 our national standard when our armies have but just returned 

 from following that standard to the dismemberment of Mex- 

 ico to call it by its mildest name ! and when each year it 

 waves above a new line of military out-posts guarding new ter- 

 ritory, of which we have dispossessed the aboriginal owners. 



Plundering Fish-Hawks indeed ! we come of a race of 

 Robbers, and the Anglo-Norman wild -fire yet riots in our 

 veins. The only consolation is, that in most instances we, 

 in obeying this predatory instinct, have acted magnificently 

 as our Eagles rob. 



This feat of robbing the Fish-Hawk, when you consider 

 the comparative size, strength and power of pinion of the 



