A Prince of the House of Eagles 333 



Arriving home permission was secured from the State Game Warden to 

 keep the bird and every arrangement was made for his comfort and safety. A 

 large park was set aside for his exclusive use in which are rocks and old stumps. 

 A roomy, warm shelter was built for his use in cold weather, but he seems to 

 prefer the open the greater part of the year. He delights in summer storms 

 and at such times will mount the highest rock where he will clap his big wings, 

 jump up and down and scream in an ecstasy of joy, and the fiercer the thunder, 

 the stronger the wind and the heavier the downpour, the more he enjoys it. 

 He was named "Me-giz-ze-was" in honor of the Indian who found him. 



His food consists of squirrels, rabbits, rats, fish, and an occasional chicken; 

 in fact, he eats any kind of meat but it must be strictly fresh as he will not 

 touch anything that is tainted. He is very keen-eyed and nothing escapes 

 his notice. He is devoted to Mr. Craker and when he sees him coming he flies 

 to meet him, uttering pleasant little sounds of greeting and showing his delight 

 in many gentle motions quite at variance with the usually accepted idea of a 

 bird of prey. He will take food from Mr. Craker's hand; in fact, he is not 

 afraid of anyone but he must be treated with respect or he develops a whirlwind 

 of anger and vents it upon the one who has been lacking in courtesy. He 

 particularly resents having a finger pointed at him, and will instantly hurl 

 himself at the offender in a wild swoop through the air. Landing on the ground, 

 he follows up the attack by running after his victim in a series of high jumps, 

 wings flapping, beak open, uttering all the while the most horrifying screams. 

 Strong and agile, armed with sharp beak and talons, he can put the bravest 

 man to flight. He has a special hatred for cats and never permits one of the 

 animals to come near him. Dogs and chickens he regards with unconcern. 



Me-giz-ze-was has molted every year since he was captured. The first two 

 years his plumage remained in the dark, and when three years old he was still 

 browTi, though showing a grayish color under the wings, but at the next molting 

 the feathers of his head, neck, and tail came in perfectly white while the color 

 of his beak and eyes underwent a change, becoming lighter. Each time that 

 he had molted his primaries, secondaries, and tail feathers have been carefully 

 saved and from them a beautiful chief's war bonnet has been made which is 

 now in the possession of an Indian of loi Ranch fame. 



Once Me-giz-ze-was ran — or rather flew — away. The Crakers never ex- 

 pected to see him again but the Indians of the vicinity said, "Oh, yes, he'll 

 come back when he has seen the world," and sure enough one morning in 

 April Me-giz-ze-was was discovered in the top of a tall tree near the house, 

 looking somewhat disheveled and weary. He allowed himself to be captured 

 and put back in his park, and after a good meal he perked up, dressed his 

 feathers, and seemed to show great satisfaction at again having all the comforts 

 of home. 



The nest in which Me-giz-ze-was was undoubtedly hatched is in the top of 

 an immense dead tree 4 feet in diameter, standing in the midst of a swamp 



