WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. 
97 
one ; fastened his claws into the Lead of a dog, and was with 
difficulty disengaged. I have ridden on horseback within five 
or six rods of one, who, by his bold demeanour, raising liis 
featliers, &c. seemed willing to dispute the ground with its 
owner. The crop of the present was full of mutton, from my 
part blood Merinos; and his intestines contained feathers, 
which he probably devoured with a Duck, or Winter Gull, 
as I observed an entire foot and leg of some water fowl. 
I had two killed previous to this, which weighed ten pounds 
avoirdupois each.” 
The intrepidity of character, mentioned above, may be 
farther illustrated by the following fact, which occurred a few 
years ago, near Great Egg Harbour, New Jersey. A woman, 
who happened to be weeding in the garden, had set her child 
down near, to amuse itself while she was at work ; when a 
sudden and extraordinary rushing sound, and a scream from 
her child, alarmed her, and, starting up, she beheld the infant 
thrown down, and dragged some few feet, and a large Bald 
Eagle bearing off a fragment of its frock, which being the 
only part seized, and giving way, providentially saved the life 
of the infant. 
The appetite of the Bald Eagle, though habituated to long 
fasting, is of the most voracious, and often the most indelicate 
kind. Fish, when he can obtain them, are preferred to all 
other fare. Young lambs and pigs are dainty morsels, and 
made free with on all favourable occasions. Ducks, Geese, 
Gulls, and other sea fowl, are also seized with avidity. The 
most putrid carrion, when nothing better can be had, is 
acceptable ; and the collected groups of gormandizing Vul- 
tures, on the approach of this dignified personage, instantly 
disperse, and make way for their master, waiting his departure 
in sullen silence, and at a respectful distance, on the adjacent 
trees. 
In one of those partial migrations of tree squirrels that 
sometimes take place in our western forests, many thousands 
of them were drowned in attempting to cross the Ohio ; and 
VOL. II. 
G 
