32 
THE BOOTED EAGLE. 
own for many years to come. The young cannot be taken, nor me eggs destroyed, as the bird 
always builds its nest on tlie summit of some lofty tree, which is inaccessible to any human 
being except the native Australian. These trees often rise for a hundred feet without a branch, 
thus presenting an insurmountable obstacle to the efforts of any white man. 
It will not disdain to feed upon carrion, a flock of thirty or forty having been observed by 
Mr. Grould seated round the carcass of an ox, and gorged with food like so many vultures. 
Like the vultures, it will follow the white kangaroo hunters day after day, in order to avail 
itself of the offal which they throw aside. Of the black hunters it takes no heed, knowing well 
that the black man has no idea of leaving any portion whatever of his prey for any creature 
except himself, and that if any part of the slain animal should be distasteful to his palate it is 
handed over to his wives, who wait round him at a respectful distance, receiving humbly any 
morsels that he may be pleased to throw to them. 
BOOTED EAGLE. (Aquila pennata.) 
A rather amusing account of the discomfiture of a pair of these Eagles is given by 
Captain Flinders, in his “ Voyage to Terra Australis.” In company with a friend, he had 
landed on an uninhabited island, and had captured a snake, which he was taking to the ship 
for the benefit of the naturalist. While so engaged, an Eagle “with fierce aspect and out- 
spread wing came bounding towards ns, but stopping short at twenty yards off, he flew up into 
a tree. Another bird of the same kind discovered himself by making a motion to pounce down 
upon us as we passed underneath ; and it seemed evident they took us for kangaroos, having 
probably never before seen an upright animal of any other species in the island. These birds 
sit watching in the trees, and should a kangaroo come out to feed in the daytime, it is seized 
and torn to pieces by these voracious creatures.” 
