LIFE OF WILSON. 
ccvii 
nals, and discover, with astonishment, that the sole performer in 
this singular concert is the admirable bird now before us. During 
this exhibition of his powers, he spreads his wings, expands his 
tail, and throws himself around the cage in all the ecstasy of en- 
thusiasm, seeming not only to sing, but to dance, keeping time to 
the measure of his own music. Both in his native and domestica- 
ted state, during the solemn stillness of night, as soon as the moon 
rises in silent majesty, he begins his delightful solo; and serenades 
us with a full display of his vocal powers, making the whole neigh- 
bourhood ring with his inimitable medley.” 
I will give but one example more of our author’s descriptive 
powers, and that will be found in his history of the Bald Eagle. 
As a specimen of nervous writing it is excellent ; in its imagery it 
is unsurpassed ; and in the accuracy of its detail it transcends all 
praise. 
“ This distinguished bird, as he is the most beautiful of his 
tribe in this part of the world, and the adopted emblem of our coun- 
try, is entitled to particular notice. He has been long known to 
naturalists, being common to both continents, and occasionally 
met with from a very high northern latitude, to the borders of the 
torrid zone, but chiefly in the vicinity of the sea, and along the 
shores and cliff’s of our lakes and large rivers. Formed by nature 
for braving the severest cold; feeding equally on the produce of 
the sea, and of the land; possessing powers of flight capable of 
outstripping even the tempests themselves ; unawed by any thing 
but man ; and from the ethereal heights to which he soars, looking 
abroad, at one glance, on an immeasurable expanse of forests, 
fields, lakes and ocean, deep below him ; he appears indififerent to 
the little localities of change of seasons ; as in a few minutes he 
can pass from summer to winter, from the lower to the higher re- 
gions of the atmosphere, the abode of eternal cold ; and thence 
descend at will to the torrid or the arctic regions of the earth. He 
is therefore found at all seasons in the countries which he inhabits; 
