TIIE CARACABA EAGLE. 
22 
24th November of that year, in the course of an excursion near the town of 
St. Augustine, I observed a bird flying at a great elevation, and almost over 
my head. Convinced that it was unknown to me, and bent on obtaining it, 
I followed it nearly a mile, when I saw it sail towards the earth, making for 
a place where a group of "Vultures' were engaged in devouring a dead horse. 
Walking up to the horse, 1 observed the new bird alighted on it, and helping 
itself freely to the savoury meat beneath its feet ; but it evinced a degree of 
shyness far greater than that of its associates, the Turkey-Buzzards and 
Carrion Crows. I moved circuitously, until I came to a deep ditch, along 
which I crawled, and went as near to the bird as I possibly could ; but find- 
ing the distance much too great for a sure shot, I got up suddenly, when the 
whole of the birds took to flight. The eagle, as if desirous of forming 
acquaintance with me, took a round and passed over me. I shot, but to my 
great mortification missed it. However, it alighted a few hundred yards off, 
in an open savanna, on which I laid myself flat on the ground, and crawled 
towards it, pushing my gun before me ; amid burs and mud-holes, until I 
reached the distance of about seventy-five yards from it, when I stopped to 
observe its attitudes. The bird did not notice me ; he stood on a lump of 
flesh, tearing it to pieces, in the manner of a "Vulture, until he had nearly 
swallowed the whole. Being now less occupied, he spied me, erected the 
feathers of his neck, and, starting up, flew away, carrying the remainder of 
his prey in his talons. I shot a second time, and probably touched him ; 
for he dropped his burden, and made off in a direct course across the St. 
Sebastian river, with alternate sailings and flappings, somewhat in the 
manner of a Vulture, but more gracefully. He never uttered a cry, and I 
followed him wistfully with my eyes until he was quite out of sight. 
The following day the bird returned, and was again among the Vultures, 
but at some distance from the carcass, the birds having been kept off by the 
do*gs. I approached by the ditch, saw it very well, and watched its move- 
ments, until it arose, when once more I shot, but without effect. It sailed 
off in large circles, gliding in a very elegant manner, and now and then 
diving downwards and rising again. 
Two days elapsed before it returned. Being apprised by a friend of this 
desired event, instead of going after it myself, I despatched my assistant, who 
returned with it id little more than half an hour. I immediately began my 
drawing of it. The weather was sultry, the thermometer being at 89°; and 
to rny surprise, the vivid tints of the plumage were fading much faster than 
I had ever seen them in like circumstances, insomuch that Hr. Bell of 
Dublin, who saw it when fresh, and also when I was finishing the drawing 
twenty-four hours after, said he could scarcely believe it to be the same 
bird. How often have I thought of the changes which I have seen effected 
