THE EAGLES. 



IF the kingdom of the ah" is the birds' true kingdom, 

 the Eagle has first claim to be called king. It is a 

 high claim, and, like the lion's title among beasts, it 

 has been challenged again and again. Yet to what other 

 feathered creature can the place of honour be given? 



True it is that the tremendous wings of the white- 

 breasted Albatross, sailing league after league through 

 the vast sea-spaces of the South Atlantic, carry him 

 where the eagle would not dare to go. True, also, that 

 this king has no royal robes like the Golden Pheasant, 

 or the Peacock, or the Bird of Paradise. True, yet again, 

 that even among his own tribe of plunderers and flesh- 

 snatchers, the Condor of the Andes exceeds him in size 

 and flight. 



Nevertheless, when we think of his stately bearing, 

 his commanding eye, his mighty wings, his fearful beak, 

 his taloned feet, so quick to seize, so strong to retain, the 

 right of the Eagle to keep the title he has borne so long, 

 seems to us a thing beyond dispute. 



From ancient days when the kings and conquerors 

 of this world of ours were robbers and plunderers, too, 

 in all but name, and observed the simple old rule — 



"That they may take who have the power, 

 And they may keep who can," 



the Eagle has been acknowledged to be the most royal 



of birds. 



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