40 
them at this time, rendering the duty more easy, is evident, for 
you seldom find them sleeping; their bright eyes are usually 
open, and they look, indeed, quite thoughtful, as though already 
reflecting about their little family. The male among some tribes 
occasionally relieves his mate by taking her place awhile, and among 
all varieties he exerts himself to bring her food, and to sing for her 
amusement. But altogether, this voluntary imprisonment of those 
busy, lively creatures is a striking instance of that generous en- 
during patience which is a noble attribute of parental affection. 
There are many instances in which a temporary change of 
habit, or of character, as it were, is produced by the same powerful 
feeling, where the careless become watchful, the timid bold, the 
weak strong, under its influence. The eagle, the chief among his 
race, is a striking instance of this when he lowers his lordly wings 
to bear a burden in behalf of his young. This peculiar tender- 
ness of the eagle, in bearing its young on the back, is entirely 
opposed to the common habits of birds, who almost invariably 
carry their less precious burdens, their food, or the materials for 
their nests in their bills, or their claws. Whether the eagles in 
this part of the world resort to the same practice one cannot say ; 
that the Eastern eagle does so we feel assured, for it is implied in 
two striking passages of Holy Scripture. The Almighty Jehovah 
who has vouchsafed to represent himself to man in the paternal 
character, as conveying to our minds the strongest idea of his 
compassionate providence, when addressing his people of old, 
was pleased to employ this image : "Ye have seen what I did to 
the Egyptians, and how I bear you on eagles' wings, and brought 
you unto myself." And, again, the inspired Prophet, when sing- 
ing the salvation of Israel through the merciful care of the Al- 
