NATURAL HISTORY. 
104. 
the toes are covered with fcales ; and the 
claws ai'e exceedingly ftrong and formidable 
It is found in the mountainous parts of Ire- 
land, where its fiercenefs has been obferved 
to attack cats, dogs, llieep, See. As it fcl- 
dom lays more than twox:ggs, it is a convin- 
cing proof that Providence has wifely pre- 
vented too groat an increafe of wliat might 
prove offenlive, if not deftrucSlive to the pof- 
fedions of mankind. Some of thefe birds, 
have been found in Wales. 
The male engages in the. maintenance of 
the young for the firfl: three months ; after 
which time the female undertakes, and con- 
tinues in this employment, until they are ca- 
pable of providing for themfelves]! The ea- 
gle flics the higheft of all birds,, and is. 
therefore called the bird of Heaven. . Bo- 
chart fays, that it lives a century, during 
which period it is continually increafing. 
Such is its thirft after blood, that it never 
drinks any other liquid, unlefs when fick. 
'I'he fwan is the only bird that dare refill 
this king of birds. Ail others, not even ex- 
cepting the dragon, tremble at its terrific 
cry. Not content with preying on birds, 
and the fmaller beafls, it will plunge into 
fcas, lakes, and rivers, after fill). His fight 
is more acute than that of any other bird.. 
It carries the young on its back to fecure 
them from the fowler. I'hc feathers are 
renovated every ten years, which greatly 
increafes its vigour, as exprtlTcd in the beau- 
tiful 
