48 HABITS OF THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 



He had taken possession of a heap of dead squirrels that had been accidentally drowned, 

 and prevented any other bird, or beast of prey, from approaching his treasure. He is 

 especially fond of lambs, and is more than suspected of aiding the death of many a sickly 

 sheep by the dexterous use of his beak and claws. Sometimes he pays the penalty of 

 his voracity, as was very recently the case. A Bald Eagle had caught a wild duck, and 

 carrying it to a large piece of ice, tore his prey in pieces, and began to eat it. When he 

 had hnished Ins repast, he spread his wings for flight, but found himself una^de to stir, 

 liis feet having been firmly frozen to the ice. Several persons who witnessed the scene 

 endeavoured to reach the bird, but were unable, owing to the masses of loose ice that 

 intervened between the Eagle and the land. At last the poor bird perished, as was 

 supposed, having been seen to flap his useless wings in vain endeavours to escape until 

 night drew on and darkness hid him from view. 



The manner in which the Bald Eagle hunts for, procures, and kills lus prey, is so 

 admirably told hj Mr. Audubon, that it would be impossible to do justice to the subject 

 without quoting his own words : — 



" The Eagle is seen perched, in an erect attitude, on the siimmit of the tallest tree 

 by the margin of the broad stream. His glistening, but stern eye, looks over the vast 

 expanse. He listens attentively to every sound that comes to his quick ear from afar, 

 glancing every now and then on the earth beneath, lest even the light tread of the fawn 

 may pass unheard. His mate is perched on the opposite side, and should all be tranquil 

 antl quiet, warns him, by a cry, to continue patient. At this well-known call he partly 

 opens his broad wings, inclines his body a little downwards, and answers to her voice in 

 tones not unlike the laugh of a maniac. The next moment he resumes his erect attitude, 

 and again all around is silent. Ducks of many species — the teal, the widgeon, the mallard, 

 and others — are seen passing with great rapidity, and following the course of the current, 

 but the Eagle heeds them not ; they are at that time beneath his attention. 



The next moment, however, the wild, trumpet-like sound of a yet distant, but 

 approaching swan is heard. A shriek from the female Eagle comes across the stream, for 

 she is fully as alert as her mate. The latter suddenly shakes the whole of his body, and, 

 with a fev7 touches of his bill, aided by the action of his cuticular muscles, arranges his 

 plumes in an instant. The snow-white bird is now in sight ; her long neck is stretched 

 forward ; her eye is on the watch, vigilant as that of her enemy ; her large wings seem 

 with difficulty to support the weight of her body, although they flap incessantly ; so 

 irksome do her exertions seem, that her very legs are spread beneath her tail to aid her 

 in her flight. She approaches, however. The Eagle has marked her for his prey. 



As the swan is passing the dreaded pair, starts from his perch the male bird, in 

 preparation for the chase, with an awful scream, that to the swan's ear brings more terror 

 than the report of the large duck -gun. Now is the moment to witness the display of the 

 Eagle's powers. He glides through the air like a falhng star, and, like a flash of lightning, 

 comes upon the timorous quarry, which now, in agony and despair, seeks by various 

 manoeuvres to elude the grasp of his cruel talons. It mounts, doubles, and willingly 

 would plunge into the stream, were it not prevented by the Eagle, which, possessed of the 

 knowledge that by such a stratagem the swan might escape him, forces it to remain in 

 the air, by attempting to strike it with his talons from beneath. 



The hope of escape is soon given up by the swan. It has already become much 

 weakened, and its strength fails at the sight of the courage and swiftness of its antagonist. 

 Its last gasp is about to escape, when the ferocious Eagle strikes with its talons the under- 

 side of its wing, and, with unresisted power, forces the bird to fall in a slanting direction 

 upon the nearest shore. 



It is then that you may see the cruel spirit of this dreaded enemy of the feathered 

 race, whilst exulting over his prey, he for the first time breathes at liis ease. He presses 

 down his powerful feet, and drives his sharp claws deep into the heart of the dying sw^an ; 

 he shrieks with delight as he feels the last convulsions of his prey, which has now sunk 

 under his efforts to render death as painful as it possibly can be. The female has watched 

 every movement of her mate, and, if she did not assist him in capturing the swan, it vas 



