84 SALMONIA. 



POIET. The scenery improves as we ad- 

 vance nearer the lower parts of the lake. 

 The mountains become higher, and that 

 small island or peninsula presents a bold 

 craggy outline ; and the birch wood below 

 it, and the pines above, make a scene some- 

 what 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 grey 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. 



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 not far off. 



POIET. Look at the bird ! She dashes 

 into the water falling like a rock, and raising 

 a column of spray; she has fallen from a 



