NATURAL HISTORY: 201 



most elegant and sublime aerial evolutions. The unencum- 

 bered eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reach- 

 ing his opponent, when, with a sudden scream, probably of 

 despair and honest execration, the latter drops his fish : the 

 eagle, poising himself for a moment, as if to take a more cer- 

 tain aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp 

 ere it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten booty silently 

 away to the woods." 



When the Osprey plunges after its finny prey, it never 

 attempts to seize them while leaping out of the water, but 

 plunges downwards with such force, that it disappears below 

 the surface, throwing up the foam around it. 



Its nest is made of an enormous heap, enough to make a fair 

 cart-load, of sticks, grass, &c., laid among the branches of a 

 tree. In this nest it lays its eggs, which are a yellowish white, 

 sprinkled with brown blotches. 



The length of this bird is about two feet, and the expanse 

 of its wings about five feet and a half. Its feet are a pale 

 greyish blue colour, which, unfortunately, fades in a stuffed 

 specimen. 



THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 



The WHITE-HEADED EAGLE, or BALD EAGLE, as it is called 

 by Wilson, inhabits most parts of America, and especially 

 frequents the cataract of Niagara. It is very accommodating 

 in its appetite, and preys indiscriminately on lambs, pigs, swans, 

 and the fish which, as related above, it takes away from the 

 unfortunate osprey. Sometimes it can take fish honourably 

 for itself in shallow water, by wading as far as it can, and 

 snatching up the fish with its beak. Audubon gives a splendid 

 description of the chase of a swan by an eagle, but want of 

 space again prevents its insertion. 



Like the Golden Eagle, this bird lives constantly with its 

 mate, and hunts in company. It lays from two to four eggs, 

 of a dull white colour, in a huge nest placed on a tall tree. 



The claws of this bird are grooved beneath, and the hind 

 claw is the longest. The feet are half feathered, and the 



