THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 
273 
^ound, it closes its wings, and glides through the air 
' v Uh suc h rapidity as to cause a loud rustling sound, 
"ot unlike that produced by a violent gust ot wind 
losing amongst the branches of trees. Its fall towards 
«te earth can°scarcely be followed by the eye on such 
°°easions the more particularly, that these tails, or 
tfidingg through the air, usually take place when they 
,r< ‘ least expected. ... - ,, ,. 
“ This bird has the power of raising from the surface 
f the water any floating object not heavier than itself. 
In this manner it often robs the sportsman of ducks 
Hid, have been killed by him. Us audacity is quite 
Surkable While descending the Upper Mississippi, 
‘observed one of these eagles in pursuit of a green- 
Vi "ged teal. It came so near our boat, although 
u'eral persons were looking on that I could perceive 
">e glancing of its eye. The teal, on the point ot being 
flight, when not more than fifteen or twenty yards 
V us, was saved from the grasp of its enemy, one of 
°"r party having brought the latter down by a shot, 
*Wh broke one of its wings. When taken on board, 
lt "as fastened to the deck of our boat by means of. a 
tr >ng, and was fed with pieces of cat-hsh, some of which 
l began to eat on the third day of its confinement. 
as it became a very disagreeable and dangerous 
** s °ciate tryiw on all occasions to strike at some one 
"Tb its talons, "it was killed and thrown overboard 
“ When these birds are suddenly and unexpectedly 
Vouched or surprised, they exhibit a great degree of 
c ?"'ardire They rise at once, and fly oil very low, in 
Vag lines, to some distance, uttering a hissing noise, 
?°t at all like their usual disagreeable imitation of a 
' lll gh. When not carrying a gun, one may easily 
JPproach them ; but the use of that instrument being 
’’ appearance well known to them, they are very 
, C ?"tious in allowing a person having one to get near. 
%i. Notwithstanding all their caution, however, 
>y are sll0t by approaching them under cover of a 
X >, on horseback, or in a boat. They do not possess 
ll<! power of smelling gunpowder, as the crow and the: 
V °L. IV, s 
