272 
FALCO LEUCOCEPHALUS. 
it alights and devours the filthy mass. A ludicrous 
instance of this took place near the city of Natchez, 
on the Mississippi. Many vultures were engaged in 
devouring’ the body and entrails of a dead horse, 
when a white-headed eagle accidentally passing* by, 
the vultures all took to wing*, one among* the rest 
with a portion of the entrails partly swallowed, and the 
remaining* part, about a yard in length, dangling in the 
air. The eagle instantly marked him, and gave chase. 
The poor vulture tried in vain to disgorge, when the 
eagle, coming up, seized the loose end of the gut, and 
dragged the bird along for twenty or thirty yards, 
much against its will, until both fell to the ground, 
when the eagle struck the vulture, and in a few 
foments killed it, after which lie swallowed the deli- 
cious morsel. 
“ I have heard of several attempts made by this bird 
to destroy children, but have never witnessed any 
myself, although I have little doubt of its having suffi- 
cient daring to do so. 
“ The flight of the white-headed eagle is strong*, gene- 
rally uniform, and protracted to any distance at pleasure. 
Whilst travelling, it is entirely supported by equal 
easy flappings, without any intermission, in as far as I 
have observed it, by following it with the eye, or the 
assistance of a glass. When looking for prey, it sails 
with extended wings, at right angles to its body, now 
and then allowing its legs to hang at their full length. 
Whilst sailing, it has the power of ascending in circular 
sweeps, without a single flap of the wings, or any 
apparent motion either of them or of the tail ; and in 
this manner it often rises until it disappears from the 
view, the white tail remaining longer visible than the 
rest of the body. At other times, it rises only a few 
hundred feet in the air, and sails off in a direct line, and 
with rapidity. Again, when thus elevated, it partially 
closes its wings, and glides downwards for a considerable 
space, when, as if disappointed, it suddenly checks its 
career, and reassumes its former steady flight. When at 
an immense height, and as if observing an object on the 
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