12 
The same author mentions a ludicrous 
circumstance of two living Eagles of this 
kind, that were sent him from Ireland, and 
which were, on their arrival at Bristol, de- 
tained by an officer of the customs, upon a 
plea that there was a duty upon all singing 
birds. Had this happened on the other side 
of the water, it might have been termed an 
Irish story. The unfortunate birds would 
however have been starved at the custom- 
house, if application had not been made to 
the head of that department, in the port of 
Bristol, offering to pay any demand for their 
release, if legally detained for their vocal 
abilities. By this officer it was most wisely 
determined, after some consideration, that 
Eagles could scarcely be considered as sing- 
ing birds. 
The story of one of these Eagles, brought 
to the ground after a severe conflict with a 
cat, which it had seized and taken up into 
the air in its talons, is very remarkable. 
Mr. Barlow, who was an eye-witness of the 
fact, made a drawing of it, which he after- 
wards engraved. 
