98 SALMONIA. 



island or peninsula presents a bold, craggy 

 outline ; and the birch wood below it, and the 

 pines above, form a scene somewhat Alpine in 

 character. But what is that large bird soar- 

 ing above the pointed rock, towards the end 

 of the lake ? Surely it is an eagle ! 



HAL. You are right ; it is an eagle, and 

 of a rare and peculiar species the gray or 

 silver eagle, a noble bird ! From the size of 

 the animal, it must be the female ; and her 

 aerie is in that high rock. I dare say the 

 male is not far off. 



PHYS. I think I see another bird of a 

 smaller size, perched on the rock below, which 

 is similar in form. 



HAL. You do : it is the consort of that 

 beautiful and powerful bird ; and I have no 

 doubt their young ones are near at hand. 



POIET. Look at the bird ! How she 

 dashes into the water, falling like a rock, and 

 raising a column of spray : she has dropped 

 from a great height. And now she rises 

 again into the air: what an extraordinary 

 sight ! 



HAL. She is pursuing her prey, and is 



