ANECDOTE. 197 



In 1831, during Audubon's visit to the 

 Floridas, the caracara eagle was first seen by 

 him. Two years later, he became the possessor 

 of a specimen of the golden eagle, which was 

 purchased by him from Mr. Greenwood, pro- 

 prietor of the Museum at Boston. With an 

 irresistibly amusing naivete, he relates the cir- 

 cumstance. "The eagle," he tells us, " was im- 

 mediately conveyed to my place of residence, 

 covered by a blanket, to save him in his adver- 

 sity from the gaze of the people. I placed the 

 cage so as to afford me a good view of the cap- 

 tive, and I must acknowledge that as I watched 

 his looks of proud disdain, I did not feel towards 

 him so generously as I ought to have done. At 

 times, I was half inclined to restore to him his 

 freedom, that he might return to his native 

 mountains; nay, I several times thought how 

 pleasant it would be to see him spread out his 

 broad wings, and sail away towards the rocks 

 of his wild haunts ; but then, some one seemed 

 to whisper that I ought to take the portrait of 

 this magnificent bird, and I abandoned the more 

 generous design of setting him at liberty, for the 

 express purpose of showing you his semblance. 



" I occupied myself a whole day in watching 

 his movements ; oh the next I came to a deter- 

 mination as to the position in which I might 

 best represent him ; and on the third, thought 

 17* 



