ANECDOTE. 197 
In 1831, during Audubon’s visit to the 
Floridas, the caracara eagle was first seen by 
him. ‘T'wo years later, he became the possessor 
of a specimen of the golden eagle, which was 
purchased by him from Mr. Greenwood, pro- 
prietor of the Museum at Boston. With an 
irresistibly amusing naiveté, he relates the cir- 
cumstance. “The eagle,” he tells us, ‘ was im- 
mediately conveyed to my place of residence, 
covered by a blanket, to save him in his adver- 
sity from the gaze of the people. I placed the 
cage so as to afford me a good view of the cap- 
tive, and I must acknowledge that as I watched 
his looks of proud disdain, I did not feel towards 
him so generously as I ought to have done. At 
times, I was half inclined to restore to him his 
freedom, that he might return to his native 
mountains; nay, I several times thought how 
pleasant it would be to see him spread out his 
broad wings, and sail away towards the rocks 
of his wild haunts; but then, some one seemed 
to whisper that I ought to take the portrait of 
this magnificent bird, and I abandoned the more 
generous design of setting him at liberty, for the 
express purpose of showing you his semblance. 
“T occupied myself a whole day in watching 
his movements; on the next I came to a deter- 
mination as to the position in which I might 
best represent him; and on the third, thought 
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