EAGLES. 599 



up and bear it off. Meisner relates that an Eagle, having been 

 caught by the foot in a fox's trap, struggled with such effect that 

 it wrenched up the trap, and carried it away to the other side 

 of the mountain, although the instrument weighed nearly nine 

 pounds. 



The Scotch employ a method for capturing Eagles which 

 originated from their known voracity. In a narrow space, bounded 

 by four tolerably high walls, they throw down pieces of raw 

 meat. The Eagle settles to devour it. When completely gorged 

 it becomes too heavy to fly, and endeavours to make his way out 

 through an opening at the foot of the walls, where it is caught 

 and held fast by a running noose, which is placed in front of 

 the exit. 



The Eagle is remarkable for its longevity ; but this cannot be 

 accurately determined. Klein mentions an instance of one of 

 these birds which lived in captivity in Vienna for one hundred 

 and four years; he also speaks of a pair of Eagles in For- 

 farshire, in Scotland, which inhabited the same aerie for such a 

 length of time that the oldest inhabitants had always known 

 them. 



If captured young, Eagles are susceptible of a certain amount 

 of education ; but there always remains a tinge of ferocity in their 

 nature, which renders their behaviour gloomy and sullen. When 

 old they are absolutely untamable. In captivity they adapt their 

 appetite to circumstances, and will even devour their own race. 

 When nothing better is to be obtained, serpents, lizards, and, 

 according to Buffon, bread are acceptable food to them. 



Although the Eagle is so irascible by nature, it has sometimes 

 given proofs of gentleness truly astonishing. We may instance 

 the bird which lived in 1807 in the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, 

 which was captured in the forest of Fontainebleau. One of its 

 feet was broken in the trap in which it was taken, and in con- 

 sequence it was compelled to submit to a most painful operation, 

 which it underwent with exemplary calmness and courage. 

 Fully three months elapsed before it was cured, and afterwards 

 it became so familiar with its keeper that it allowed itself to be 

 caressed by him, and on his retiring for the night the bird roosted 

 by his couch. 



