86 SALMONIA. [FOURTH DAY. 



below it, and the pines above, form a scene somewhat 

 Alpine in character. But what is that large bird 

 soaring 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 aery is in that high rock. I dare 

 say the male is not far off. 



PHTS. 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 dropt from a great height. And 

 now she rises again into the air : what an extraor- 

 dinary sight ! 



HAL. She is pursuing her prey, and is one of our 

 fraternity, a catcher of fish. She has missed her 

 quarry this time, and has soared further down 

 towards the river, to fall again from a great height. 

 There ! You see her rise with a fish in her 

 talons. 



POIET. She gives an interest to this scene, wliich 



