Song Birds and Water Fowl 



The adoption of the eagle as our national 

 emblem has been strongly condemned, on the 

 ground that no animal so fierce and rapacious 

 is worthy of such exalted symbolism ; and Ben- 

 jamin Franklin expressed his disapproval of the 

 choice in very vigorous language. It is to be 

 remarked, however, that no parable is obliged to 

 " go on all fours," and I know not why more 

 should be expected of emblems than of para- 

 bles. The eagle is as truly the king of birds, in 

 its most striking aspects, as the lion is the king 

 of beasts ; and, as the mother-country had ap- 

 propriated the latter as an emblem, it was 

 quite natural that her aspiring children should 

 aim higher, and adopt the loftiest symbol they 

 could find. Ethically considered, both of these 

 creatures are, perhaps, as far as possible from 

 adequately typifying a nation's greatest glory ; 

 but they are certainly pre-eminently qualified, as 

 compared with all other creatures of their class, 

 to symbolize that strength, immensity, sublim- 

 ity, and sovereignty which, in the minds of men, 

 are predominant features of a magnificent na- 

 tional life. 



Another and more forcible objection against 

 giving this honorable distinction to the bald 

 eagle in particular is not so easy to be met ; 



