EAGLES AND ART. 267 



this, the most magnificent Eagle in the world " The Bird 

 of Washington," as it has been most appropriately called by 

 Mr. Audubon, its discoverer. We shall not speak farther of 

 this majestic creature for the present. When we are no 

 longer an immature nation, then, perhaps, it might be well 

 to place this grand and stately bird upon our standard ! 



The White-headed Eagle is a true Yankee, and does every- 

 thing after a fashion of its own, without any regard to family 

 precedents. It is very uncommon for other Eagles to hunt 

 in pairs; indeed they never do it at any rate, except at ex- 

 traordinary times, in the breeding season. This Eagle, how- 

 ever, seems to be entirely utilitarian, and to be guided, in 

 this particular, by the necessities of the case. They seldom 

 feed apart, and if the habits of the prey most convenient to 

 them render it necessary, they combine for its pursuit with- 

 out consulting formulas of propriety. Mr. Audubon de- 

 scribes a well-known instance of this sort : 



" When these Eagles, sailing in search of prey, discover a 

 Goose, a Duck, or a Swan, that has alighted on the water, 

 they accomplish its destruction in a manner that is worthy 

 of your attention. The Eagles, well aware that water-fowl 

 have it in their power to dive at their approach, and thereby 

 elude their attempts upon them, ascend in the air in oppo- 

 site directions over the lake or river, on which they have 

 observed the object which they are desirous of possessing. 

 Both Eagles reach a certain height, immediately after which 

 one of them glides with great swiftness towards the prey ; 

 the latter, meantime, aware of the Eagle's intention, dives 

 the moment before he reaches the spot. The pursuer then 

 rises in the air, and is met by its mate, which glides toward 

 the water-bird, that has just emerged to breathe, and forces 

 it to plunge again beneath the surface, to escape the talons 

 of this second assailant. The first Eagle is now poising 

 itself in the place where its mate formerly was, and rushes 

 anew to force the quarry to make another plunge. By thus 

 alternately gliding, in rapid and often repeated rushes, over 



