THE KING OF THE BIRDS. 133 
bark that is to serve him as a boat.* He sits 
upon it, and then launches it into the stream ; 
and in this way, a fleet of squirrels push off 
into the middle of the river. 
But the ingenious little creatures do not 
always come to land so safely as one could 
wish. The slightest gust of wind shipwrecks 
thousands of them ; and their dead bodies are 
thrown upon the shore. Then, the vultures, 
who have been on the look-out, expecting the 
catastrophe, assemble in great numbers to 
devour them. 
But the eagle has been upon the look-out 
too, and comes sailing to demand his right. 
The vultures show some good manners on the 
occasion, though not with any alacrity. When 
the eagle alights among them, they make way 
for him, and retire to a little distance; where 
they perch upon the trees, in sullen silence, 
waiting until he has finished, before they com- 
mence their meal. 
The cataract of Niagara yields an abundant 
supply of provision for the eagle; as bodies 
of all kinds are whirled over the edge of the 
* Linnaeus relates this of tlie squirrels in Lapland. 
