THE EAGLE, KING OF BIRDS, AND HIS KIN 



59 



Action should be di- 

 rected against the in- 

 jurious individuals 

 rather than toward the 

 group as a whole, for 

 the killing of most 

 hawks is as foolish a 

 policy as would be the 

 wholesale destruction 

 of any other element 

 that contributes to our 

 welfare. 



The majestic bald 

 eagle, our national 

 bird, has also fallen 

 under the displeasure 

 of some farmers and 

 has been rather relent- 

 lessly hunted. 



Bird lovers have 

 taken up the fight on 

 behalf of this great 

 bird of freedom, de- 

 claring that he has 

 been misrepresented 

 and that his occasional 

 thefts of poultry are 

 more than offset by 

 services in keeping our 

 beaches clean of dead 

 fish. 



ABILITY OF EAGLES TO 



CARRY WEIGHT 



EXAGGERATED 



The carrying or lift- 

 ing power of hawks 

 and eagles has been 

 frequently exagger- 

 ated. The largest 

 eagles can carry off 

 young lambs and 

 fawns, but in these 

 the weight is not 

 great. In observations in Montana, Cam- 

 eron found that the golden eagle could 

 bear away jack rabbits that weighed seven 

 pounds or more. One seized and bore 

 aloft a small cat, but dropped it quickly 

 when the cat realized its plight and got 

 into action. 



Larger prey may be killed, but it is eaten 

 on the spot and not carried away. Though 

 the strongest eagles may be able to raise 

 a weight of lO or 12 pounds, it is doubtful 

 whether they could carry this for more 

 than a few feet. 



Photograph by Charles Martin 

 A SOUTH AMERICAN CONDOR WHOSE PERMANENT RESI- 

 DENCE IS WASHINGTON, D. C. 



This monarch of the Andes is one of the prime attractions in the 

 fine collection of birds, animals, and reptiles housed in the National 

 Zoological Park. The bare skin of his head, neck, and caruncle is 

 dull red, and contrasts sharply with the white "fur" collar and dark 

 plumage. 



The hawk tribe consists of fierce, ag- 

 gressive birds, and there is widespread 

 belief in stories of eagles attempting to 

 carry off children. Probably such tales are 

 based in the main on the fierce manner in 

 which these birds often swoop at those 

 who intrude near their nests. 



In Greek mythology we read the fan- 

 ciful story of Ganymede, the beautiful 

 Phrygian shepherd boy who was carried 

 off by an eagle to Olympus to serve as cup- 

 bearer to the gods. Also, in every moun- 

 tainous country where there are eagles. 



