DIUBNAL BIRDS OF PBET. 213 



Because of their devouring the latter, the Swiss peasants call them 

 by the name of h/mmer-gyer, or lamb-vultures. Mr. Bruce, the 

 traveller, met with an eagle of this species not far from Gondar, 

 the capital of Abyssinia. He considers it the largest bird in 

 creation. 



The Bald or White-headed Eagle is found in various 

 parts of North America, and was formerly very common in the 

 vicinity of Niagara Falls, These birds breed all the year round. 

 When the eaglets are just co- 

 vered with down, and a sort ^^-^"1 

 of white woolly feathers, the 

 female eagle lays again. These 

 eggs are left to be hatched by 

 the warmth of the young ones 

 that continue in the nest, so 

 that the flight of one brood 

 makes room for the next that 

 are but just hatched. These Raid Eagle, 

 birds fly very heavily, so that 



they cannot overtake their prey, like others of the same denomi^ 

 nation. To remedy this, they often attend a sort of fishing-hawk, 

 which they pursue, and strip the plunderer of its prey. This is 

 the more remarkable, as this hawk flies swifter than they. These 

 eagles also generally attend upon fowlers in the winter, and when 

 any birds are wounded, they are sure to be seized by the eaffle, 

 though thoy may fly from the fowler. This bird will often steal 

 young pigs, and carry them alive to the nest, which is composed 

 of twigs, sticks, and rubbish ; it is large enough to fill the body 

 of a cart, and is commonly full of bones half eaten, and putrid 

 flesh, the stench of which is intolerable. 



The Black Eagle is distinguished from the others by 

 having the feathers of the head and upper part of the neck 

 mixed with red ; the ' tail feathers at the lower part of a blackish 

 color, and above, white, speckled with black. The leg feathers 

 are of a dirty white. It is found along the American Coast from 

 Florida to Brazil. 



