THE EAGLE. 
123 
in the air, they will distinguish fish swimming near 
the surface, and shooting down with the speed and 
straightness of an arrow’s course, will plunge into the 
water and seize them with their talons. Often, how- 
ever, they have no reason to boast of their success, for 
when carrying off their prize, a larger Eagle, generally 
on the look out, gives chase, and forces them to drop 
the fish, which the other catches before it reaches 
the water. This larger bird, however, is himself 
sometimes made prisoner by the singular mode he 
practises of providing for his meals : the following 
is not the only instance with which we are ac- 
quainted, but as it is sanctioned by the authority of a 
respectable Scotch clergyman, we give it at full 
length, in preference to others we have met with. 
The anecdote is told of the Erne, or white-headed 
Eagle. A halibut, a large flat-fish, resembling a 
turbot, reposing on or near the surface of the water, 
was perceived by an Erne, which immediately 
pounced down and struck his talons into the fish 
with all his force. Should the halibut he too 
strong, the Eagle it is said is sometimes, but rarely, 
drowned in the struggle. In this case, however, as 
more frequently happens, he overcame the fish ; on 
which he remained as if floating on a raft, and then 
spreading out his wide wings, he made use of them 
as sails, and was driven by the wind towards the 
shore. On landing, their first object is to disengage 
their claws by eating the flesh in which they are 
buried, but before the Erne of which we are speak- 
ing could effect this, some lookers on rushed in and 
took him alive. 
The Vulture, too, floats on a prey of a very diffe- 
