EAGLE. 
381 
see the antiquities of Nismes before he came to 
Marseilles. They took their route through St. Flour, 
in order to proceed from thence to Mende, in the 
Gevaudan, and cross the Cevennes. As this noble- 
man was charged with a commission from court, he 
was every where received with particular marks of 
distinction. An officer of note in the neighbour- 
hood of Mende invited him to pass a few days at 
his seat, and entertained him in the politest man- 
ner he was able. The abbe was included in the 
invitation, and observed with some surprise, when 
the dinner was served up, that all the wild fowl 
brought to the table wanted either a head, a wing, 
a leg, or some other part ; which occasioned the 
gentleman to say very agreeably, that they must 
pardon the voraciousness of his caterer, who always 
tasted what he had prepared before it came to the 
table. When they asked him who this caterer 
might be, and he perceived they grew facetious at 
this new mode of entertainment, he expressed him- 
self in the following manner : In these moun- 
tainous parts, which are the richest in the kingdom, 
on account of their fertility, the eagles are accus- 
tomed to build their aeries in the cavities of some 
almost inaccessible rock, which is hardly to be 
ascended by the aid of ladders and grappling-irons. 
As soon as the shepherds have discovered their re- 
treat, they raise a little hut at the foot of the rock, 
where they screen themselves from the fury of these 
dangerous birds when they convey provision to 
their young. The male carefully nourishes them 
