12 NOETH AMERICAN EAGLES. 



fugitive is quickly overtaken. When close upon its quarry the Eagle suddenly sweeps 

 beneath it , and, t inning hack downward, thrusts its powerful talons up into its breast. A 

 Brant or Duck is carried off bodily to the nearest marsh or sand-bar, but a Canada Goose is 

 too heavy to be thus easily disposed of. The two great birds fall together to the water 

 beneath, where the Eagle literally tows his prize along the surface until the shore is reached. 

 In this way one has been known to drag a large Goose for nearly half a mile. 



A single bird is usually seized at the first attempt, but Mr. Cobb has seen an Eagle repeat- 

 edly miss his aim when in the midst of a large flock. The very abundance of opportunities 

 seems to bewilder him, and he thrusts wildly and harmlessly in all directions; but after the 

 crowding masses have become scattered by his onslaught, a separate individual is selected, 

 and quickhy overtaken and killed. 



Although the larger and heavier Water-fowl are more likely to be attacked, the royal 

 bird seems to find little difficulty in overhauling the swiftest flying Ducks. The latter, 

 however, often escape by diving, although in shallow water this recourse sometimes proves 

 of no avail, as the Eagle follows their course, and seizes them as they rise near the surface. 

 Under favorable conditions even Grebes are sometimes captured. 



In winter shooting the sportsman loses many a wounded Goose or Brant by the Eagles. 

 They seem fully aware of the advantages to be gained by maintaining a close espionage 

 upon the gunner's movements, and a bird that falls at any considerable distance from the 

 stand is often seized and borne away before it can be recovered. 



Ducks of various kinds, by reason of abundance, fall regularly a 

 prey to the bald eagle, and they are stolen from unwary sportsmen 

 just as readily as larger birds. Mr. C. J. Maynard mentions seeing 

 an eagle swoop down and bear away a bufflehead (Charitonetta 

 aTbeola) just shot and lying on the water only a few yards distant. 

 Wounded ducks, with those purloined from hunters, form at some 

 seasons a good share of its food. It has been seen to drop suddenly 

 and unexpectedly to the water and catch a black duck {Anas obscura) 

 before there was any chance of escape, but usually the duck sees 

 the eagle as it comes, and then the process of capture is more pro- 

 tracted. The eagle rushes at its intended victim, which on its 

 approach dives and swims under water until compelled to return 

 to the surface for air, when the eagle again swoops down; and this 

 procedure is repeated until the duck becomes exhausted, is seized, 

 and carried away. Dr. S. D. Judd has seen a wounded scaup duck 

 (Fuligula marila) tired out in this way, and saved only by a shot 

 at the eagle. 4 CC0I> ding to observers, such a chase is seldom volun- 

 tarily given up until successful. Sometimes two together pursue 

 the duck, making alternate attacks, whereby the hunt is shortened. 

 It is, however, quite capable of catching ducks on the wing, apparently 

 experiencing little difficulty on account of their swift flight. 



This eagle is fond also of coots dFulica americana) , and Dr. William 

 L. Ralph, quoted by Maj. Charles E. Bendire, says that during winter 

 in the vicinity of Merritt Island, Indian River, Florida, it feeds 

 largely on the coots which then abound there, hunting them usually 

 on the wing. One eagle's nest with two well-grown young, visited 

 by him, contained besides a catfish (Ameiurus?) the remains of 

 thirteen coots. Still other water birds are not infrequently captured 



