802 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 
though on the breaking np of spring, when the suckers 
abound at the inlets, you may frequently see several hover- 
ing over the same spot. The Bald Eagle, who is a sort of 
omnipresent predator wherever the Primeval Nature holds 
her own upon the continent, makes his appearance some- 
times, suddenly, on his wide- visiting wings, amidst these soli- 
tudes, that seem rightfully to belong to the Fish-Hawk alone. 
His hoarse bark startles the deep silence from afar, and every 
natural sound is mute. Wheeling grandly amidst the dim 
blue cliffs, he subsides on slow and royal spread upon some 
blasted pine beside the lake-river, and with quick, short 
screaming — while he smooths his ruffled plumes — announces 
to awed nature that its winged monarch has come down to 
rest. The friendly Fish-Hawks, in silent consternation, dart 
hither and yon, in vexed, uncertain flight — the tiny song- 
sters dive into deep thickets, and the very cricket underneath 
dead leaves, pauses for a moment in its cheerful trill, while 
the shadow of that drear sound passes over all. But now the 
kingly bird grows quiet, and with many a shift of feet and 
restless lift of wing — while fierce, far-darting eyes are taking 
in all the capabilities of his new perch — ^he sinks into an at- 
titude of deep reposC' — one yellow-heated eye upturned, 
watching the evolutions of the startled Fish-Hawks ; whose 
movement becoming less and less irregular as they wheel to 
and fro, gradually subsides into the measured windings of 
their habitual flight in seeking prey — while the buzz, the 
hum, the chirp, the chatter and the carol creep up once again, 
and nature becomes voiceful in her happy silence. 
Now, to witness, as I have done, from the mountain-tops, 
the Osprey swoop down from the dizzy height, almost level 
with my feet, and hear the faint whirr of arrowy -falling 
plumes, and see the cloud-spray dimly flash through the blue 
steep of distance — ah, that was a sight ! And then the strong 
bird's scream of exultation faintly heard, and the far flash of 
scales that glitter as he drags his spoil to sunlight, from its 
