124 
THE EAGLE. 
rent description. In the rivers of the East, says a 
traveller *, one is constantly shocked with the sight 
of a floating corpse, with a Vulture perched upon it, 
and expanding its wings to cause it to land, that it 
may devour its horrid meal in leisure. 
From what has been said, it will he readily 
believed that they are most voracious in their appe- 
tites. These large fish-eaters have been known to 
consume a bucket-full a day ; and, as if aware at the 
same time of the uncertainty of always ensuring a 
supply, particularly when they have, in addition to 
their own wants, their young to provide for, they 
are in the habit of collecting an overabundance on 
the high rocks where their nests are situated, so as 
to have an ample stock in hand. And so well 
aware are the North American Indians of these 
stores, that an Eagle's nest is familiarly called an 
Indian's larder; from which the mid hunters can 
readily supply themselves, at least during the breed- 
ing and rearing season, from May to September, 
with a plentiful store of hares, ducks, and geese, 
besides fisht. 
In England, though large Eagles are now very 
rare, naturalists have met with similar instances. 
Mr. Willoughby, an excellent authority, mentions a 
nest which he saw in the woodlands, near the river 
Derwent, in the Peak of Derbyshire, about 150 
years ago ; he described it as about two yards square, 
formed of great sticks, resting one end on the ledge 
of a rock, and the other on two birch-trees, upon 
which was a layer of rushes, and over them a layer 
* Transatlantic Sketches , Vol. II. 
f Hearne’s Journey . 
