115 



CHAPTER VI. 



EAGLE AND HAWK TRIBE. WILD EAGLE; TAMED MUSCULAR 



POWERS OF CARRY OFF CHILDREN', LAMBS, ETC. SOME- 

 TIMES KILLED OX THE WING BY WEASLES. BATTLE BETWEEN 



CAT AND EAGLE. HOW CAUGHT WHEN* FISHING. VORACITY 



OF. NESTS. SINGULAR MODE OF CAPTURING THEIR PREY. 



BIRD OF WASHINGTON. EAGLE TRAPS. FEATHERS OF, 



PRIZED. 



TABLE II. ORDER I. RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 

 EAGLES AND HAWKS. 



WE have classed Eagles and Hawks together, for 

 though not exactly similar in their form and habits 

 of life, there is still a great resemblance : they are 

 for the most part wild, savage birds, and may be 

 compared to the Lions, Tigers, and all that family 

 of four-footed animals, preying upon others, and 

 tearing them to pieces, for their food. 



The Eagle stands first and foremost amongst them, 

 for though one or two of the Vulture tribe are a 

 little larger, none can compare with the well-named 

 King of Birds. Those \\lio have only seen an Eagle 

 in confinement, can form little idea of what he is, in 

 his natural state, amongst the rocks and mountains, 

 in which he takes up his abode a situation in which 

 we were once fortunate enough to be very near one of 

 these noble birds. In climbing some high precipices 

 in the volcanic district of Auvergne in France, near 

 a great waterfall, which dashed downwards with a 

 thundering noise ; in the midst of the loud roar of 

 waters, a short shrill cry met our ear, coming, as it 



12 



