THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 
271 
j «eds. B u t this is of no avail, for the eagles follow it 
a H its motions, and the moment it approaches the 
one of them darts upon it, and kills it in an 
^hint, after which they divide the spoil, 
c" During spring and summer, the white-headed eagle, 
,, J procure sustenance, follows a different course, and 
^ much less suited to a bird apparently so well able 
Jj^l'ply itself without interfering with other plunderers. 
,,® sooner does the fish-hawk make its appearance 
our Atlantic shores, or ascend our numerous and 
"I'e rivers, than the eagle follows it, and, like a selfish 
jl'Pi'essor, robs it of the hard-earned fruits of its labour. 
J^ehed on some tall summit, in view of the ocean, or 
‘ “some water-course, he watches every motion of the 
nPtey while on the wing. When the latter rises from 
Water, with a fish in its grasp, forth rushes the 
in pursuit. He mounts above the fish-hawk, and 
f "*'eateus it by actions well understood, when the latter, 
perhaps that its life is in danger, drops its prey. 
J: Mi instant, the eagle, accurately estimating the rapid 
J^ent of the fish, closes his wings, follows it with the 
v'tness of thought, and the next moment grasps it. 
^ prize is carried off in silence to the woods, and 
iu feeding the cvcr-hungry brood of the eagle, 
w This bird now and then procures fish himself, by 
yi^uing them in the shallows of small creeks. I have 
(."Messed several instances of this in the Perkioming 
in Pennsylvania, where, in this manner, I saw 
k t - e «f them secure a number of red-fins, by wading 
kj'Jriy through the water, and striking at them with 
t(, S V'll. 1 have also observed a pair scrambling over 
vf'ce of a frozen poud, to get at some fish below, but 
,, °ut success. 
I- It does not confine itself to these kinds of food, but 
ik e 4ily devours young pigs, lambs, fawns, poultry, and 
J.' Putrid flesh of carcasses of every description, driving 
L 'he vultures and carrion-crows, or the dogs, and 
japing a w jiole party at defiance until it is satiated, 
n tr equeutly gives chase to the vultures, and forces 
to disgorge the contents of their stomachs, when 
