90 



WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 



and large rivers. Formed by nature for braving the severest cold; 

 feeding equally on the produce of the sea, and of the land; pos- 

 sessing powers of flight capable of outstripping even the tempests 

 themselves; unawed by any thing but man; and from the ethereal 

 heights to which he soars, looking abroad, at one glance, on an im- 

 measurable expanse of forests, fields, lakes and ocean, deep below 

 him, he appears indifferent to the little localities of change of sea- 

 sons; 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 from 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, contempla- 

 tive, daring and tyrannical ; attributes not exerted but on particu- 

 lar occasions; but when put forth, overpowering all opposition. 

 Elevated on the high dead limb of some gigantic tree that com- 

 mands a wide view of the neighbouring shore and ocean, he seems 

 calmly to contemplate the motions of tlie various feathered tribes 

 that pursue their busy avocations below; the snow white Gulls 

 slowly winnowing the air; the busy Tringae 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 all his attention. By his wide curvature of wing, 

 and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be the Fish-Haivk, 

 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 hea- 

 ven, descends the distant object of his attention, the roar of its 

 wings reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep, making the 



