British birds. 
3 
the bafe, in which are placed the noftrils ; the 
head and neck are well clothed with feathers, 
which fufficiently diftinguifh it from every one of 
the vulture kind; the legs and feet are fcaly, 
claws large and ftrong, much hooked, and very 
lharp : Birds of this fpecies are alfo diftinguilhed 
by their undaunted courage, and great activity* 
Buffon, fpeaking of the Eagle, compares it with 
the Lion, and afcribes to it the magnanimity, the 
llrength, and the forbearance of that noble quadru- 
ped. The Eagle defpifes fmall animals, and dif- 
regards their infults ; he feldom devours the whole 
of his prey, but, like the Lion, leaves the fragments 
to other animals ; though famifhed with hunger, 
he difdains to feed on carrion. The eyes of the 
Eagle have the glare of thofe of the Lion, and are 
nearly of the fame colour; the claws are of the 
fame ftiape, and the cry of both is powerful and 
terrible; deflined for war and plunder, they are 
equally fierce, bold, and untraCtable, Such is the 
refemblance which that ingenious and fanciful wri- 
ter has pi&ured of thefe two noble animals ; the 
characters of both are firiking and prominent, 
and hence the Eagle is faid to extend his domi- 
nion over the birds, as the Lion over the quadru- 
peds. 
The fame writer alfo obferves, that in a fiate of 
nature, the Eagle never engages in a folitary chace 
but when the female is confined to her eggs or her 
B 2 
