THE EAGLE. 
115 
lambs in the adjoining fields; but now and then, 
when from some accident it had not been regularly 
supplied with its accustomed food, it would seize 
upon and kill young pigs. Children, who constantly 
met it, as it walked about the garden, were never 
molested ; but on one occasion, it attacked its master 
with some violence, in consequence, as it was sup- 
posed, of his having neglected to bring it some bread 
or other food it was accustomed to receive from his 
hand. At length, after . having lived about ten or 
twelve years in this way, it was killed by a powerful 
and ferocious mastiff. Nobody saw the battle, but it 
must have been long and bravely contested, for the 
dog, though victorious, was so severely wounded, that 
it died almost immediately afterwards. 
The weight of a large Eagle is about twelve pounds, 
though some (as the Bird of Washington) weigh 
fourteen pounds and a half; rather more than an 
average-sized Goose. But in order to transport 
this weight with their extraordinary occasional speed 
of 140 miles or more per hour, which it has been 
proved these birds can accomplish, there is a prodi- 
gious spread of wing, from seven to upwards of ten 
feet, from tip to tip, in addition to a muscular power 
almost incredible. 
An Eagle has been known to strike and kill its 
prey with a stroke of its pinions, before it touched 
them with its claws. Many people have, however, 
doubted whether they have sufficient strength to 
carry off children and lambs; and if such belief 
rested only on one or two instances, it might be 
reasonably questioned, but so many well-authenticated 
cases have been mentioned, as having occurred in 
