BALD EAGLE AND FISH HAWK. 65 



powerful congener. One of the finest passages in Wilson's 

 "Birds of America" is that in which he describes a struggle 

 between these predatory birds. 



Elevated on the high dead branch of some lofty tree, the 

 eagle appears to survey with calm indifference the motions 

 of the various feathered tribes that pursue their avocations 

 in the lower air : snowy gulls, slow-speeding on lazy wings ; 

 busy tringas, hastening along the sands ; trains of ducks, 

 streaming over the surface of the great lake or inland sea ; 

 silent and watchful cranes, intently wading ; and clamorous 

 crows, wheeling in rapid flight with all the winged myriads 

 that derive their subsistence from the bounty of the inex- 

 haustible waters. High over all these appears one whoso 

 action intently engages the eagle's attention. He is no 

 longer tranquil and indifferent, for he knows him to be the 

 fish hawk, preparing to pounce upon some devoted victim 

 of the deep. At the sight his dark eye kindles, and balanc- 

 ing himself with half-opened wings on the branch, he 

 watches the result. Down, swift as an arrow from a well- 

 strung bow, plunges the fierce hawk ; the roar of his wings 

 reaching the ear as he disappears in the deep, raising jets 

 of foam and spray all around ! At this moment the eagle's 

 glance is all ardour, and levelling his neck for flight, he 

 sees the fish hawk emerge, with his prey struggling in his 

 talons, and mount rapidly in the air, uttering loud screams 

 of exultation. These are the signals for our hero, who, 

 launching into the air, instantly pursues, and soon over- 

 takes the hawk, each straining every muscle to mount 

 above the other, and displaying in their manoeuvres the 

 most graceful and sublime aerial evolutions. 

 C710) 5 



