to 



THE NIDIOLOGISt. 



it. 1 now discovered it to be the great 

 (iolden Eagle Rising to ray feet I gave it 

 the right liand barrel, which was charged 

 with 6"s. 



The only evidence it gave of having been 

 touched by the shot was unsteadily oscil- 

 lating from side to side for a few seconds, 

 and it theti majestically sailed on its way 

 down the lake as though nothing had 

 happened. 



Notwithstanding this, 1 believed it to be 

 hard hit, and stepping to the water's edge 

 watciied it closely until it had gone fully a 

 mile. 



Suddenly it wheeled around and came 

 back with increased speed, descending 

 lower and lower in its flight until finally 

 it fell into the water not 40 feet from where 

 I stood. About half way between the eagle 

 and the shore there was floating in the 

 water an old bulk- head of a raft. The bird 

 made for this and climbed on to it, not, 

 however, without some difficulty, for when 

 it would hook its great bill over the top 

 and clamber up, the timber would roll over 

 and precipitate it backwards into the water 

 again. After several attempts it finally 

 succeeded in getting on to it all right. It 

 seemed weak and unsteady on its legs, and 

 in a few moments it heaved so far forward 

 that it lost its balance, and the log rolling 

 it pitched head first into the water. I now 

 came to the rescue ; procuring a long pole 

 I waded out as far as possible and reaching 

 one end to the Eagle he grasped it firmly 

 with one foot and I towed him ashore. 



As soon as I got him safely on dry land 

 he at once showed his gratitude at being 

 rescued from the almost ice-cold water by 

 making fiercely at me. He was no mean 

 antagonist ; his great legs were as big as a 

 man's arm over the bi -eps, and the talons 

 were an inch and a half long. My gun 

 was empty and 1 had no more cartridges 

 with me. While I was being chased 

 around through the bushes I was busily 

 trying to solve the problem of how to 

 dispatch this great bird without marring 

 his plumage. He was one of the finest of 



his species, and would make a magnificent 

 specimen. F'inally a large forked 8tick 

 which fell under my eye suggested a plan. 

 Catcliing it up I turned on the Eagle, and 

 getting it across his neck pinned him to 

 the ground and held him there until I was 

 .satisfied that he was suffocated. 



Picking up my duck which had come 

 ashore I went to camp, leaving the Eagle 

 where I had killed him. When I told my 

 companions — Captain Scott and his son 

 Tom — what I had bagged, they propo.sed 

 to go at once and bring him into camp. 

 Telling them to go, while I would remain 

 and prepare breakfast, they at once slaried. 

 Fifteen minutes later a great laughing and 

 .shouting over in the ditectiou where I had 

 sent them arrested my attention. 



Ha tening out to the open where I could 

 obtain a view of what was going on, I was 

 greatly amused to see Capt. Scott, who is a 

 lame man, hopping around through the 

 brush as best he could with the Eagle in 

 hot pursuit. Tom was laughing as though 

 it was the greatest circus on earth, and the 

 Captain was making the air blue with 

 imprecations. 



Finally when the Eagle was about to 

 overhaul him he caught up a club and 

 dealt it a blow that would have felled 

 an ox. 



The bird fell over apparently dead, but 

 when brought into camp showed signs of 

 life. He was then finally dispatched for 

 good l>y running a sharp knife blade 

 through the roof of his mouth into his 

 brain. 



What a magnificent bird he was, even in 

 death. The very personification of cour- 

 age, vigor and independence. From lip to 

 tip he measured 8 feet and four inches, and 

 he weighed 14 pounds. 



He was given to a lieutenant in charge 

 of a government surveying expedition. 

 He was sent to Washington and mounted, 

 and now forms one of the attractions in the 

 National Mu.seum. 



I)k. W. S Strodk. 



Lewistoivn, 111. 



