E A G 
0(flober. Their metamorphofis into the fly-ftate 
is performed within ihells compofed of their own 
^kins. The fly produced from the worm, which 
falls under Reaumur's firft clafs of two-v/inged 
flies, has a trunk and lips, but no teeth; and it's 
body is compofed of fix rings. The head, which 
is extremely round, and nearly of a fpherical figure, 
is very large in proportion to the body; the antennae 
are of the lenticular or battledore fliape; the reti- 
cular eyes are of a deep chefnut-colour ; and the 
three fmall ones are placed as is ufual in infe6ts of 
the fame clafs. The corfelet is a fine gilded 
green; and the back is compofed of fuch a variety 
of changeable colours, that no defcription of them 
is capable of conveying an adequate idea of their 
beauty. The under part or belly is a pale yellow ; 
and the legs and balancers are of the fame hue, but 
rather more faint. 
DUNLIN. The Englifh name of a bird of 
the fnipe kind, the tringa alpina of Linnsus. The 
back, head, and upper-part of the neck, are ferru- 
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ginous marked with large black fpots; the lower 
part of the neck is white imprefled with broad 
dufky fpots, or with a black crefcent pointing to- 
wards the thighs ; the tail is cinereous, the two mid- 
dle feathers being the darkeft; the legs are black; 
and the tail is divided to it's origin. 
The Dunlin, which is rather larger than the 
lark, is fometimes feen on the fea-coafts of the Bri- 
tifn ides, but may be reckoned among the rara 
aves. It lays four eggs of a dirty white colour, 
blotched with brown round their thickefh ends, 
and marked with a few fmall fpots of the fame co- 
lour on their fmaller extremities ; and it's flefh is 
efteemed a peculiar delicacy. 
DUNTER-GOOSE. An appellation fome- 
times given to the eider-duck, the anas moliffima 
of LinncEus; a fowl very common in the He- 
brides. 
DYTISCUS. A term by which fome natu- 
ralifts diftinguilli a particular fpecies of the water- 
beetle. 
EAGLE. A fpecies of falcon In the Linnsean 
fyftem of zoology ; being the largeft,ftrongeft, 
as well as fwifteft, of all predaceous birds. 
Eagles generally fix their retreats in fuch fitua- 
tions as are mofl remote from mortals; on whofe 
pofTeiTions they rarely commit any depredations, 
chufing rather to prey on the wild game of the 
forefl: than to gratify their appetites at the hazard 
of their fafety. 
The Eagle is among birds what the lion is among 
quadrupeds ; and, in many refpe6ts, they ftrongly 
refemble each other: they both exercife a kind of 
fovereignty over their fellows of the foreft; and, 
equally magnanimous, difdain all petty plunder, 
and purfue only fuch animals as are worthy of con- 
queft. The Eagle fcorns to lhare the fpoils of 
another bird, and accordingly rejedts every fpe- 
cies of prey which he has not acquired by his own 
induftiy and prowefs. However craving his ap- 
petite may be, he riever ftoops to feed on carrion ; 
nor, when fatiated, does he ever return to the fame 
carcafe, but leaves it to other creatures more rapa- 
cious and lefs delicate than himfelf. Like the lion, 
alfo, he is folitary in his difpofition; and it is as 
extraordinary for two pair of Eagles to be found 
on the fame mountain, as for two lions to be 
obfei-ved in the vicinity of each other: they live 
afunder for the purpofe of obtaining a more ample 
fupply of food, and confider the quantity of their 
game as the fureft teft of their dominion. 
The lion and the Eagle ftrongly refemble each 
other In other refpedts : their eyes are fparkling, 
and nearly of the fame colour; their claws are 
lhaped alike; and their voices are loud and tre- 
mendous. Adapted to a ftate of warfare, they are 
inimical to all fociety; and equally fierce, proud, 
and incapable of being reclaimed. 
Infinite art and patience are requifite in taming 
the Eagle; and, even when taken young, and hum- 
bled by long afllduity, it proves but a dafigerotis 
domeftic, and rarely Ihews much regard for it's 
feeder. When the falconer introduces this crea- 
ture into the field for the purpofes of fowling, he is 
never fure of it's attachment : innate pride and love 
of liberty prompt it to regain it's native folitudes ; 
and frequently, on being firft turned loofe, it rifes 
perpendicularly into the clouds, and is feen no 
more. Sometimes, however, it's natural ferocity 
has been fo far fubdued, that it has evinced no 
fiTiall degree of love for it's mafter: and on fuch 
occafions it proves highly ferviceable to him, in 
amply providing both for his pleafure and I'upport; 
for, when liberated, it hovers round him in a fport- 
ive manner, till the game prefents itfelf; which the 
Eagle being capable of difcerning at an aftonifti- 
ing diftance, inftantly purfues and overtakes. 
The Eagle foars the higheft of all the feathered 
tribe; and hence the ancients have given it the epi- 
thet of the Bird of Heaven : of all others alfo it has- 
the moft perfpicacious eye; but it's fenfe of fnell^. 
ing is much inferior to that of the vulture. Ic 
never purfues but when it's prey is in fight; which, 
whenever it has feized, it places on the ground, 
previous to carrying it off". Though very power- 
ful when on the wing, the joints of it's legs being 
rather ftiff^, it finds fome difficulty in rifing again 
after a defcent: however, if not inftantly purfued, 
it will with facility carry off^ a goofe, or any other 
bird equally large. It alfo feizes on hares, lambs, 
and kids; which laft, as well as fawns, it frequently 
deftroys for the fake of drinking dieir blood, and 
carrying away fome part of their fleili to it's re- 
treat. Even infants, when left unattended, have 
at times fallen viftims to this rapacious creature ; 
which circumftance probably gave rife to the fable 
of Ganymede's having been fnatched up to heaven 
by an Eagle. Sibhald, in his Hiftory of Scotland, 
records an inftance of two children that were car- 
ried 
