102 
WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. 
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 surprise, 
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 commensurate with power ! 
“ The Eagle has the several auxiliaries to digestion and 
assimilation 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,) separates 
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, convo- 
lute, and supplied with numerous lacteal vessels, which differ 
little from those of men, except in colour, which was transpa- 
rent. The kidneys were large, and seated on each side the 
vertebrse, near the anus. They are also destined to secrete 
some offensive principles from the blood. 
t€ The eggs were small and numerous ; and, after a careful 
examination, 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 mystery. 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, no more eggs are 
wanted than a sufficiency to produce that effect. Are the eggs 
numbered originally, and is there no increase of number, but 
a gradual loss^ till all are deposited ? If so, the number may 
correspond to the long life and vigorous health of this noble 
