30 
TIIE BALD EAGLE. 
enduring rapid changes of temperament, and its whole body 
is clothed under the feathers with a kind of down, white 
and soft like that of the swan. This bird builds its nest 
on some romantic cliff by the sea-shore, or on the bank of 
some river or lake, and feeds almost entirely upon fish. 
It is generally regarded by our countrymen with pecu- 
liar respect, as the chosen emblem of our native land. 
The great cataract of Niagara is mentioned as one of its 
favourite places of resort, not merely as a fishing station, 
where it is enabled to satiate its hunger upon its most con- 
genial food, but also in consequence of the vast quantity of 
four-footed beasts, which unwarily venturing into the stream 
above, are borne away by the torrent, and precipitated down 
those tremendous falls. 
High o’er the watery uproar silent seen, 
Sailing sedate in majesty serene, 
Now ’midst the pillar’d spray sublimely lost, 
And now emerging, down the rapids toss’d, 
Glides the Bald Eagle, gazing calm and slow 
O’er all the horrors of the scene below ; 
Intent alone to sate himself with blood, 
From the torn victims of the raging flood. 
The number of birds of prey of various kinds, which 
assemble at the foot of the rocks to glut themselves upon 
the banquet thus provided for them, is said to be incredibly 
great, but they are all compelled to give place to the Eagle 
when he deigns to feed on dead animals; and the crow and 
