WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 
55 
did not receive the bird time enough to ascertain whether 
‘‘ any chylification was effected by the juices from the vessels 
“ of this enlargement of the oesophagus. I think it probable that 
“ it also has a regurgitating or vomiting power, as the bird con- 
“ stantly swallows large quantities of indigestible substances, 
“ such as quills, hairs, &c. In this sac of the Eagle, I found the 
“ quill feathers of the small white gull; and in the true stomach, 
“ the tail and some of the breast feathers of the same bird; and 
“ the dorsal vertebrae of a large fish. This excited some sur- 
‘‘ prise, until you made me acquainted with the fact of its 
‘‘ watching the Fish-hawks, and robbing them of their prey. 
“ Thus we see, throughout the whole empire of animal life, 
power is almost always in a state of hostility to justice, and 
“ of the Deity only can it truly be said, that Justice is com^ 
mensurate with power! 
“ The Eagle has the several auxiliaries to digestion and as- 
“ similation in common with man. The liver was unusually 
“ large in your specimen. It secretes bile, which stimulates 
‘‘ the intestines, prepares the chyle for blood, and by this very 
“ secretion of bile, (as it is a deeply respiring animal,) sepa- 
“ rates or removes some obnoxious principles from the blood. 
“ (See Dr. Rush’s admirable lecture on this important viscus 
“ in the human subject. ) The intestines were also large, long, 
“ convolute, and supplied with numerous lacteal vessels, which 
differ little from those of men, except in colour, which was 
“ transparent. The kidneys were large, and seated on each 
‘‘ side the vertebrae, near the anus. They are also destined to 
“ secrete some offensive principles from the blood. 
“ The eggs were small and numerous; and after a careful ex- 
“ amination, I concluded that no sensible increase takes place 
“ in them till the particular season. This may account for 
“ the unusual excitement which prevails in these birds in the 
‘‘ sexual intercourse. Why there are so many eggs is a mys- 
“ tery. It is perhaps consistent with natural law, that every 
thing should be abundant; but from this bird, it is said, no 
“ more than two young are hatched in a season, consequently 
