CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 1. RAPTORES. 45 



attacks it fiercely in the air; the cowardly vulture instantly disgorges, and the delicious contents 

 are snatched up by the eagle before they reach the ground. 



" The flight of the bald eagle, ■when taken into consideration with the ardor and energy of his 

 character, is noble and interesting. Sometimes the human eye can just discern him, like a minute 

 speck, moving in slow curvatures along the face of the heavens, as if reconnoitering the earth at 

 that immense distance. Sometimes he glides along in a direct horizontal line, at a vast height, 

 with expanded and unmoving wings, till he gradually disappears in the distant blue ether. Seen 

 gliding in easy circles over the high shores and mountainous clitFs that tower above the Hudson 

 and Susquehanna, he attracts the eye of the intelligent voyager, and adds great interest to the 

 scenery. At the great Cataract of Niagara, already mentioned, there rises from the gulf into 

 wliich the Fall of the Horse-Shoe descends, a stupendous column of smoke, or spray, reaching to 

 the heavens, and moving off in large black clouds, according to the direction of the Avind, form- 

 ing a very striking and majestic appearance. The eagles are here seen sailing about, sometimes 

 losing themselves in this thick column, and again reappearing in another place, with such ease 

 and elegance of motion, as renders the whole trub^ sublime. 



" High o'er the watery nproar, silent seen, 

 Sailing sedate in majesty serene, 

 Now midst the pillared spray sublimely lost, 

 And now, emerging, down the rapids tossed, 

 Glides the Bald Eagle, gazing, calm and slow, 

 O'er all the horrors of the scene below ; 

 Intent alone to sate himself with blood. 

 From the torn victims of the raging flood." 



Audubon describes a bald eagle pursuing a swan, as follows : — " The next moment, however, 

 the wild trumpet-like sound of a yet distant but approaching swan is heard : a shriek from the 

 female eagle comes across the stream ; for she is fully as alert as her mate. The snow-white 

 bird is now in sight : her long neck is stretched forward ; her eye is on the watch, vigilant as 

 that of her enemy; her large wings seem with difficulty to support the weight of her body, 

 although they flap incessantly. So irksome do her exertions seem, that her very legs are spread 

 beneath her tail, to aid her in her flight. She approaches; the eagle has marked her for his 

 prey. As the swan is passing the dreaded pair, the male bird starts from his perch, in full pre- 

 paration for the chase, with an awful scream. 



" Now is the time to witness a display of the eagle's powers. He glides through the air like a 

 falling star, and, like a flash of lightning, comes upon the timorous quarry, which now, in agony 

 and despair, seeks, by various maneuvers, to elude the grasp of his cruel talons. It mounts, 

 doubles, and willingly would plunge into the stream, were it not prevented by the eagle, wliich, 

 long possessed of the knowledge that, by such a stratagem, the swan might escape him, forces it 

 to remain in the air, by attempting to strike it with his talons from beneath. The hope of escape 

 is soon given up by the swan. It has already become much weakened, and its strength fails at 

 the sight of the courage and swiftness o'." its antagonist. Its last gasp is about to escape, when 

 the ferocious eagle strikes with his talcns the under side of its wing, and, with unresisted power? 

 forces the bird to fall in a slanting direction upon the nearest shore." 



And, again, when two of these eaglco are hunting, in concert, some bird which has alighted 

 on the water, this writer says : 



"At other times, when these eagles, sailing in search of prey, discover a goose, a duck, or a 

 swan, that has alighted on the water, they accomplish its destruction in a manner that is worthy 

 of our attention. Well aware that the water-fowl have it in their power to dive at their approach, 

 and thereby elude their attempts upon them, they ascend in the air, in opposite directions, over 

 the lake or river on wliich the object which they are desirous of possessing has been observed. 

 Both reach a certain height, immediately after which, one of them glides with great swiftness 

 toward the prey ; the latter, meantime, aware of the eagle's intention, dives the moment before 

 he reaches the spot. The pursuer then rises in the air, and is met by its mate, which glides 

 toward the water bird, that has just emerged to breathe, and forces it to plunge again beneath 



