EAGLES AND AET. 
267 
this, the most magnificeiit Eagle in tlie world — " The Bird 
of Washington," as it has been most appropriately called by 
Mr. Audubon, its discoverer. We shall not speak farther of 
this majestic creature for the present. When we are no 
longer an immature nation, then, perhaps, it might be well 
to place this grand and stately bird upon our standard ! 
The White-headed Eagle is a true Yankee, and does every- 
thing after a fashion of its own, without any regard to family 
precedents. It is very uncommon for other Eagles to hunt 
in pairs ; indeed they never do it at any rate, except at ex- 
traordinary times, in the breeding season. This Eagle, how- 
ever, seems to be entirely utilitarian, and to be guided, in 
this particular, by the necessities of the case. They seldom 
feed apart, and if the habits of the prey most convenient to 
them render it necessary, they combine for its pursuit with- 
out consulting formulas of propriety. Mr. Audubon de- 
scribes a well-known instance of this sort : 
" When these Eagles, sailing in search of prey, discover a 
Goose, a Duck, or a Swan, that has alighted on the water, 
they accomplish its destruction in a manner that is worthy 
of your attention. The Eagles, well aware that water-fowl 
have it in their power to dive at their approach, and thereby 
elude their attempts upon them, ascend in the air in oppo- 
site directions over the lake or river, on which they have 
observed the object which they are desirous of possessing. 
Both Eagles reach a certain height, immediately after which 
one of them glides with great swiftness towards the prey ; 
the latter, meantime, aware of the Eagle's intention, dives 
the moment before he reaches the spot. The pursuer then 
rises in the air, and is met by its mate, which glides toward 
the water-bird, that has just emerged to breathe, and forces 
it to plunge again beneath the surface, to escape the talons 
of this second assailant. The first Eagle is now poising 
itself in the place where its mate formerly was, and rushes 
anew to force the quarry to make another plunge. By thus 
alternately gliding, in rapid and often repeated rushes, over 
