WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. g$ 



powers of flight capable of outstripping even the tempests 

 themselves ; unawed by anything but man ; and, from the 

 ethereal heights to which he soars, looking abroad, at one 

 glance, on an immeasurable expanse of forests, fields, lakes, 

 and ocean, deep below him, he appears indifferent to the little 

 localities of change of seasons; as, in a few minutes, he can 

 pass from summer to winter, from the lower to the higher 

 regions of the atmosphere, the abode of eternal cold, and 

 thence descend, at will, to the torrid, or the arctic regions of 

 the earth. He is, therefore, found at all seasons in the 

 countries he inhabits ; but prefers such places as have been 

 mentioned above, from the great partiality he has for fish. 



In procuring these, he displays, in a very singular manner, 

 the genius and energy of his character, which is fierce, con- 

 templative, daring, and tyrannical, — attributes not exerted 

 but on particular occasions, but, when put forth, overpowering 

 all opposition. Elevated on the high dead limb of some 

 gigantic tree that commands a wide view of the neighbouring 

 shore and ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions 

 of the various feathered tribes that pursue their busy avoca- 

 tions below, — the snow-white gulls slowly winnowing the air ; 

 the busy Tringce coursing along the sands ; trains of ducks 

 streaming over the surface ; silent and watchful cranes, intent 

 and wading ; clamorous crows ; and all the winged multitudes 

 that subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of 

 nature. High over all these hovers one, whose action instantly 

 arrests his whole attention. By his wide curvature of wing, 

 and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be the fish 

 hawk, settling over some devoted victim of the deep. His 

 eye kindles at the sight, and, balancing himself, with half 

 opened wings, on the branch, he watches the result. Down, 

 rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant object of 

 his attention, the roar of its wings reaching the ear as it dis- 

 appears in the deep, making the surges foam around. At 

 this moment, the eager looks of the eagle are all ardour ; and, 

 levelling his neck for flight, he sees the fish hawk once more 



