EAGLE. 
385 
or so gentle, as to remove all suspicions of danger. 
His body is robust ; his legs and wings strong ; his 
flesh hard ; his bones firm ; his feathers stiff ; his 
attitude bold and erect ; his movements quick ; his 
flight rapid. He rises higher than any of the wing- 
ed race; and hence he was termed by the antients 
the celestial bird, and regarded in their auguries as 
the messenger of Jove. By means of his exquisite 
sight he can distinguish objects at an immense di- 
stance ; and when he has seized his prey he checks 
his flight, and places it upon the ground to ex- 
amine its weight before he carries it off. “ Though 
his wings be vigorous,” continues Buffon, “ yet his 
legs being stiff it is with difficulty that he can rise, 
especially if he is loaded. He bears away geese and 
cranes with ease ; he also carries off hares, young 
lambs, and kids. When he attacks fawns or calves, 
he instantly gluts himself with their blood and 
flesh, and afterwards transports their mangled car- 
casses to his aerie, or nest, which is quite flat, and 
not hollow like that of other birds. He commonly 
places it between two rocks, in a dry inaccessible 
place. The same nest, it is said, serves the eagle 
for the whole course qf its life. It is, indeed, a la- 
borious work, and solid enough to last for a con- 
siderable time. It is constructed nearly like a floor, 
with small sticks five or six inches long, supported 
at the extremities, and crossed with pliant branches, 
covered with several layers of rushes and heath ; the 
nest is several feet broad, and so firm as not only 
to receive the eagle, the female, and the young, but 
2 c 
VOL. I, 
