EAGLE LIFE 



cestral pile as long as the location endures. The -nest is 

 constructed of broken branches and sticks two or three feet 

 long and made more compact by the addition of weed stems, 

 coarse grasses and sometimes roots and sod. Each succeed- 

 ing year more material is added, until, after being occupied 

 for a number of years, it is a very bulky affair, five or six 

 feet high and four or five feet across. Unlike most other 

 birds, eagles make their nest their home and not merely a 

 nursery. 



This majestic bird shows his kingly character in per- 

 forming very little labor himself. While occasionally he 

 goes on a fishing tour, it is usually under stress of hunger. 

 Ordinarily he exacts tribute from the industrious osprey, his 

 powerful but humble slave, who usually relinquishes his 

 choicest catch on hearing the intimidating cry of his superior. 

 When this subject fails to provide a sufficiency, the ravenous 

 vulture is occasionally made to give of his food — sometimes 

 even to yield from his crop that which he has swallowed to 

 satisfy his own hunger — that this king of birds may be made 

 comfortable, whatever the cost to his subjects. He does not 

 spend his time in continual feasting, however, for a full re- 

 past will often last him several days. 



Even in captivity the eagle does not lay aside his 

 kingly bearing: pacing his perch in a six-foot cage, this 

 royal, feathered pirate, with head thrown back as he looks 

 on us with fearless, unflinching eye, has the manner of some 

 mighty viking of old pacing the deck of his vessel. Though 

 a captive, he will never be intimidated, never be other than 

 a king. 



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