THE BEARDED EAGLE. 03 



Bearded eagle shot by Mr. Bruce. 



large piece which remained in the warm water. 

 Away he went slowly along the ground, as he 

 had come. The face of the cliff over which cri- 

 minals are thrown, took him from our sight. 

 The Mahometans that drove the asses were much 

 alarmed, and assured me of his return. My ser- 

 'vants, on the other hand, very unwillingly ex- 

 pected him, and thought he had already taken 

 more than his share. 



" As I had myself a desire of more intimate 

 acquaintance with him, I loaded a rifle-gun with 

 ball, and sat down close to. the platter by the 

 meat. It was not many minutes before he came, 

 and a shout was raised by my attendants, enough 

 to have dismayed a less courageous animal. 

 Whether he were not quite so hungry as at his 

 first visit, or suspected something from my ap- 

 pearance, I know not; but he made a small turn, 

 and sat down about ten yards from me, the pan 

 with the meat being between me and him. As 

 the field was clear before me, and I did not know 

 but his next move might bring him opposite to 

 some of rny people, so that he might actually 

 get the rest of the meat and make off, I shot him 

 with the ball through the middle of his body, 

 about two inches below the wing, so that he lay 

 down upon the grass without a single flutter. 



" Upon laying hold of his monstrous carcase, 

 I was not a little surprised at seeing my hands 

 covered with yellow powder or dust. On turn- 

 ing him upon his belly, and examining the fea- 



