About Birds The Eagle. 



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Blackboard Drawing. American Eagle. Height, 3 feet; width 

 of outspread wings, 8 feet. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



ABOUT BIRDS. 



1. Here is a bird which can rise in the air as 

 high as any balloon, and can steer itself so as to 

 go whither it wishes, which is more than the 

 man in the balloon can do. For this purpose it 

 is contrived with wonderful wisdom. Number- 

 less air-cells are distributed throughout its body, 

 extending even into its bones. These air-cells 

 the bird can fill at pleasure, and thus rise more 

 easily in the air, or it can empty them and 

 make itself heavier, so as to descend more rap- 

 idly upon its prey. Its feathers are models 

 of strength and lightness. It is an eagle (see 

 chart). 



2. The EAGLE is a bird of prey that is, it 

 procures its food by violence or robbery, seizing 

 not only other birds but also young fawns, rac- 

 coons, rabbits, wild turkeys, etc. Its height or 



