THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 33 



prey, he disdains to feed upon carrion. Like 

 the lion, also, he is solitary ; the inhabitant of 

 a desert, over which he reigns supreme, ex- 

 cluding all the other birds from his silent do- 

 main. It is perhaps even more uncommon to 

 see two pairs of eagles in the same tract of 

 mountain, than two families of lions in the 

 same part of the forest. They separate from 

 each other at such wide intervals, as to afford 

 ample range for subsistence; and esteem the 

 value and extent of their domain to consist in 

 the abundance of prey with which it is replen- 

 ished. The eyes of the Eagle have the glare 

 of those of the lion, and are nearly of the same 

 colour ; the claws are of the same shape ; the 

 organs of sound are equally powerful, and the 

 cry equally terrible. Destined, both of them, 

 for war and plunder, they are alike bold, fierce, 

 and untractable. It is impossible to tame them, 

 unless they be caught in their infancy." It may 

 be allowed that this parallel holds good in all 

 its points but one, that which respects the voice 

 of the Eagle, which is a piercing treble, pos- 

 3 



