WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. 103 



chilification was effected by the juices from the vessels of this 

 enlargement of the oesophagus. I think it probable, that it 

 also has a regurgitating, or vomiting power, as the bird con- 

 stantly swallows large quantities of indigestible substances, 

 such as quills, hairs, &c. In this sac of the eagle, I found the 

 quill-feathers of the small white gull ; and in the true stomach, 

 the tail and some of the breast- feathers of the same bird, and 

 the dorsal vertebrae of a large fish. This excited some surprise, 

 until you made me acquainted with the fact of its watching the 

 fish hawks, and robbing them of their prey. Thus we see, 

 throughout the whole empire of animal life, power is almost 

 always in a state of hostility to justice ; and of the Deity only 

 can it truly be said, that justice is commensurate with power ! 



" The eagle has the several auxiliaries to digestion and 

 assimilation in common with man. The liver was unusually 

 large in your specimen. It secretes bile, which stimulates 

 the intestines, prepares the chyle for blood, and by this very 

 secretion of bile (as it is a deeply respiring animal), separates 

 or removes some obnoxious principles from the blood. (See 

 Dr Hush's admirable lecture on this important viscus in the 

 human subject.) The intestines were also large, long, 

 convolute, and supplied with numerous lacteal vessels, which 

 differ little from those of men, except in colour, which was 

 transparent. The kidneys were large, and seated on each side 

 the vertebrae, near the anus. They are also destined to secrete 

 some offensive principles from the blood. 



" The eggs were small and numerous ; and, after a careful 

 examination, I concluded that no sensible increase takes place 

 in them till the -particular season. This may account for 

 the unusual excitement which prevails in these birds in the 

 sexual intercourse. Why there are so many eggs, is a mystery. 

 It is, perhaps, consistent with natural law, that everything 

 should be abundant ; but, from this bird, it is said, no more 

 than two young are hatched in a season, consequently, no 

 more eggs are wanted than a sufficiency to produce that effect. 

 Are the eggs numbered originally, and is there no increase 

 of number, but a gradual loss, till all are deposited ? If so, 



