156 EAGLE. 



" < The Bald Eagle,' says this gentleman, < remains on this island 

 during the whole winter. They can be most easily discovered on 

 evenings, by their loud snoring while asleep on high oak trees ; and 

 when awake, their hearing seems to be nearly as good as their sight. 

 I think I mentioned to you, that I had myself seen one flying with a 

 lamb ten days old, and which it dropped on the ground, from about ten 

 or twelve feet high. The struggling of the lamb, more than its 

 weight, prevented its carrying it away. My running, hallooing, and 

 being very near, might prevent its completing its design. It had 

 broken the back in the act of seizing it ; and I was under the necessity 

 of killing it outright to prevent its misery. The lamb's dam seemed 

 astonished to see its innocent offspring borne off into the air by a bird. 



" ' I was lately told,' continues Mr. Gardiner, ' by a man of truth, 

 that he saw an Eagle rob a hawk of its lish, and the hawk seemed 

 so enraged as to fly down at the Eagle, while the Eagle very delibe- 

 rately in the air, threw himself partly over on his back ; and while he 

 grasped with one foot the fish, extended the other to threaten or seize 

 the hawk. I have known several hawks unite to attack the Eagle ; 

 but never knew a single one to do it. The Eagle seems to regard the 

 hawk as the hawks do the king-birds, only as teazing troublesome fellows.' 



" From the same intelligent and obliging friend, I lately received a 

 well preserved skin of the Bald Eagle, which, from its appearance, and 

 the note that accompanied it, seems to have belonged to a very formi- 

 dable individual. < It was shot,' says Mr. Gardiner, ' last winter, on 

 this island, and weighed thirteen pounds, measured three feet in length, 

 and seven from tip to tip of the expanded wings ; was extremely fierce 

 looking ; though wounded, would turn his back to no one ; fastened 

 his claws into the head of a dog, and was with difficulty disengaged. 

 I have rode on horseback within five or six rods of one, who, by his 

 bold demeanour, raising his feathers, &c, seemed willing to dispute 

 the ground with its owner. The crop of the present was full of mut- 

 ton from my part blood merinos ; and his intestines contained feathers, 

 which he probably devoured with a duck, or winter gull, as I observed 

 an entire foot and leg of some water fowl. I had two killed previous 

 to this, which weighed ten pounds avoirdupoise each.' 



" The intrepidity of character mentioned above, may be further illus- 

 trated by the following fact, which occurred a few years ago near Great 

 Egg-harbour, New Jersey. A woman who happened to be weeding 

 in the garden, had set her child down near to amuse itself while she 

 was at work, when a sudden and extraordinary rushing sound, and a 

 scream from her child, alarmed her, and starting up she beheld the 

 infant thrown down, and dragged some few feet, and a large Bald 



