132 THE EAGLE. 



he waited with great impatience and curiosity, when 

 the approach of the aid Eagles was announced by 

 loud hissings, which he soon perceived to be uttered 

 by two young ones crawling from the extremity of 

 their hole, to receive a fine fish presented by the 

 parent, as it held itself to the projecting rock, some- 

 thing after the manner of a House Swallow, its tail 

 spread out, and its wings partly so. That they might 

 not be observed, or frighten the birds away, they 

 crouched down, and kept perfect silence, not whisper- 

 ing a single word. In a few minutes the other parent 

 joined its mate: it also had brougnt a fish, but being 

 not so bold, or more suspicious, before it ventured 

 to alight, it glanced its quick and piercing eye around, 

 and instantly catching sight of the spectators, dropped 

 the prey, and with a loud shriek communicated its 

 alarm to the other, which, loosening its hold, hovered 

 over their heads, keeping up a sort of growling 

 threatening cry of intimidation. 



At the same moment, the young birds, as if aware 

 of some danger, shrunk back, and buried themselves 

 in the chink of the rock; and, as further waiting 

 would have been unavailing, the observers went to 

 the bottom of the precipice, and picked up the fish 

 that had fallen; it proved to be a sort of large perch, 

 weighing about five pounds and a half, the upper 

 part of the head was broken in, and the back much 

 torn by the talons of the Eagle. The sport being 

 over, as they journeyed home, they agreed to return, 

 and endeavour to procure, dead or alive, both the 

 old and young birds. 



Accordingly, on the third day following, they as- 

 sembled with some additional hands, well provided 



