268 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 



the ill-fated bird, they soon fatigue it, when it stretches out 

 its neck, swims deeply, and makes for the shore, in the hope 

 of concealing itself among the rank weeds. But this is of no 

 avail, for the Eagles follow it in all its motions, and the mo- 

 ment it approaches the margin, one of them darts upon it, 

 and kills it in an instant, after which they divide the spoil." 



The hunters and Indians say that a pair of these birds will 

 sometimes attack, with success, a deer or antelope, upon the 

 prairies. They select some animal which, being wounded or 

 for other cause, has separated itself from the herd. They 

 assault it from above, something after the manner just de- 

 scribed, striking in swift dives at the eyes with beak and 

 talons, until the speed of the agonized creature is gradually 

 checked, and reeling blindly along for a little while, it falls, 

 to be torn an easy prey. The same fact is related concern- 

 ing the Great Vulture of the East and the Condor of South 

 America, both of which are known in this way to destroy 

 large animals that have been ever so slightly wounded 

 being stimulated to the unusual assault by the smell of 

 blood. 



The vital power of the Eagle is most amazing. In addi- 

 tion to the surprising fact, that it has been known to live as 

 many as twenty days without food, and exhibit little appa- 

 rent distress therefrom, it has been found to be about invul- 

 nerable to poisons, both gaseous and mineral, that are surely 

 fatal to other creatures. Two instances in point are men- 

 tioned in the Biography of Birds. In the first, a White- 

 headed Eagle was sentenced to contribute to a cabinet of 

 natural history, etc. 



" A variety of experiments was made with a view to de- 

 stroy him without injuring his plumage, and a number of 

 mineral poisons were successively given him in large doses, 

 but without effect. At length a drachm of corrosive subli- 

 mate of mercury was inclosed in a small fish, and given him 

 to eat. After swallowing the whole of this, he continued to 

 appearance perfectly well, and free from inconvenience. 



