194 AUDUBON THE NATURALIS}. 
are also inhabitants of the Western World, the 
owl, of which there exists a great variety, and 
the eagle. Among the latter the white-headed 
eagle is especially distinguished. The noble bira 
is renowned for his strength, his courage, and 
his remarkable powers of flight. As winter 
advances along the shore of the Mississippi, he 
may beseen. Erect on the summit of the tallest 
tree, adorning the banks of that proud stream, his 
keen eye eagerly viewing the expanse around, 
sits this ruthless monarch among birds, the ter- 
ror of all aerial and aquatic wanderers. Should 
everything remain tranquil, he is warned by a 
ery from his companion to continue patient for 
- a while, to which the eagle replies in tones 
described as resembling the laugh of a maniac 
Silently he watches, regardless of the insig- 
nificant teal or widgeon, which crosses the cur- 
rent, until at length he is. roused by the sight 
of a swan, her snowy form moving gracefully, 
as she sails with majestic ease along the waters. 
Then it is that the exulting’shriek of the eagle 
is borne over the stream, striking the ear of the 
swan with terror, as, flapping her large wings, 
with out-stretched neck and animated eye, she 
watches the enemy’s approach. Darting through 
the air like a lightning flash, he bears down 
with resistless destruction on his despairing prey, 
For a time it struggles, seeks to dash into the 
