326 WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. 
there, as for the numerous carcasses of squirrels, deer, bears, and va- 
tious other animals, that. in their attempts to cross the river above the 
Falls, have been dragged into the current, and precipitated down that 
tremendous gulf, where, among the rocks that bound the Rapids be- 
low, they furnish a rich repast for the Vulture, the Raven, and the 
Bald Eagle, the subject of the present account. This bird has been 
long known to naturalists, being common to both continents, and occa- 
savage in his cage; in his native wilds he seems little less so. Fish is the favorite 
food, though they do not seem able to take them by plunging, but content them- 
selves ih either seizing from the Ospreys what they have caught, or, where the 
water is so shallow as to allow them, clutch the fish without diving. Audubon 
says it only now and then procures fish for itself. He has seen them several times 
attempting to take red-fins by wading briskly through the water, and striking at 
them with their bill. When fish are not to be had, they appear hardly contented 
with the smaller animals or birds; pigs and sheep are a common fare, and our 
author has even mentioned one instance of a child being attacked. The male and 
female hunt in concert, and it must be when attackmg some large-winged game, 
or water-fowl, which have had recourse to the Jake or river for safety, that their en- 
ergies will be best observed. Audubon thus describes a Swan hunt: — _ 
“The next moment, however, the wild trumpet-like sound of a yet distant but 
approaching Swan is heard : a shriek from the female Eagle comes across the 
stream ; for she is fully as alert as her mate. The snow-white bird is now in sight : 
her long neck is stretched forward; her eye is on the watch, vigilant as that of 
her enemy; her large wings seem with difficulty to support the weight of her 
body, although they fap incessantly. So irksome do her exertions seem, that her 
very legs are spread beneath her tail, to aid her in her flight. She approaches ; 
the Eagle has marked her for his prey. As the Swan is passing the dreaded pair, 
starts from his perch, in full preparation for the chase, the male ‘bird, with an awful 
scream. 
“Now is the moment to witness a display of the Eagle’s powers. He glides 
through the air like a falling star, and, like a flash of lightning, comes upon the 
timorous quarry, which now, in agony and despair, seeks. by various manceuvres 
to elude the grasp of his cruel talons. It mounts, doubles, and willingly would 
plunge into the stream, were it not prevented by the Eagle, which, long possessed 
of the knowledge that, by such a stratagem, the Swan might escape him, forces it 
to remain in the air, by attempting to sine it with his talons from beneath. The 
hope of escape is soon given up by the Swan. It has already become much weak- 
ened, and its strength fails at the sight of the courage and swiftness of its antago- 
nist. Its last gasp is about to escape, when the ferocious Eagle strikes with his tal- 
ons the under side of its wing, and, with unresisted power, forces the bird to fall 
in a slanting direction upon the nearest shore.” 
And, again. when hunting in concert after some bird which has alighted on the 
water :— 
“ At other times, when these Eagles, sailing in search of prey, discover a Goose, 
a Duck, or a Swan, that has alighted on the water, they accomplish its destruction 
in a manner that is worthy of our attention. Well aware that water-fowl have it 
in their power to dive at their approach, and thereby elude their attempts upon 
them, they ascend in the air. in opposite directions, over the lake or river on which 
the object which they are desirous of possessing has becn observed. Both reach 
a certain height, immediately after which, one of them glides with great swifiness 
towards the prey; the latter, meantime, aware of the Eagle’s intention, dives the 
moment before he reaches the spot. The pursner then rises in the air, and is met 
by its mate, which glides toward the water-bird, that has just emer~-d to breathe, 
and forces it to plunge again beneath the surface, to escape the taons of this second 
assailant. ‘The first Eagle is now poising itself in the place where its mate former- 
ly was, and rushes anew. to force the quarry to make another plunge. By thus 
alternately gliding, in rapid and often-repeated rushes, over the ill-fated bird, they 
soon fatigue it. when it stretches out its neck, swims deeply, and_makes for the 
shore in the hope of concealing itse.f among the rank weeds. But this is of no 
avail ; for the Bagles follow it in all its motions; and the moment it approaches 
the margin, onc of them darts upon it. 
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