LoNceEVITY. 
GOLDEN EAGLE. ‘Ciggsgs 
Illzfum unguibus heefit onus. 
the theft was difcovered in time, and the children 
reftored unhurt out of the eagles nefts, to the af- 
frichted parents. In order to extirpate thefe per- 
nicious birds, there is a law in the Orkney ifles, 
which entitles any perfon that kills an eagle to an 
hen out of every houfe in the parifh, in which it 
was killed *. . 
Eagles feem to give the preference to the carcafies 
of dogs or cats. Perfons, who make it their bufi- 
nefs to kill thefe birds, lay that of one or other 
by way of bait; and then conceal themfelves within 
eun-fhot. They fire the inftant the eagle alights, 
for fhe that moment looks about before fhe begins 
to prey. Yet quick as her fight may be, her 
fenfe of hearing feems ftill more exquifite. If 
hooded crows or ravens happen to be nearer the 
carrion and refort to it firft, and give a fingle croak, 
the eagle is certain of inftantly repairing to the 
fpot, if there is one in any part of the neigh- 
borhood. 
Eagles are remarkable for their longevity; and 
for their power of fuftaining a long abftinence 
from food. Mr. Keyfler relates that an eagle died 
at Vienna after a confinement of 104 years. ‘This 
preeminent length of days probably gave occafion 
* Camden’s Brit. 1.1474. The impreffion of an eagle and 
child on the coin of the J/e of Manz, was probably owing to 
fome accident of this kind. 
to 
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