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T H E W H I T E - H E A D E D EAGLE.
FALCO LEUCOCEPHALUS, LINN.
P L A T E X X X I . MALE.
T H E figure of this noble bird is well known throughout the civilized
world, emblazoned as it is on our national standard, which waves in the
breeze of every clime, bearing to distant lands the remembrance of a
great people living in a state of peaceful freedom. May that peaceful
freedom last for ever !
The great strength, daring, and cool courage of the White-headed
Eagle, joined to his unequalled power of flight, render him highly conspicuous
among his brethren. To these qualities did he add a generous disposition
towards others, he might be looked up to as a model of nobility.
The ferocious, overbearing, and tyrannical temper which is ever and
anon displaying itself in his actions, is, nevertheless, best adapted to his
state, and was wisely given him by the Creator to enable him to perform
the office assigned to him.
To give you, kind reader, some idea of the nature of this bird, permit
me to place you on the Mississippi, on which you may float gently
along, while approaching winter brings millions of water-fowl on whistling
wings, from the countries of the north, to seek a milder climate in
which to sojourn for a season. The Eagle is seen perched, in an erect
attitude, on the highest summit of the tallest tree by the margin of the
broad stream. His glistening but stern eye looks over the vast expanse.
He listens attentively to every sound that comes to his quick ear from
afar, glancing now and then on the earth beneath, lest even the light
tread of the fawn may pass unheard. His mate is perched on the opposite
side, and should all be tranquil and silent, warns him by a cry to
continue patient. At this well known call, the male partly opens his
broad wings, inclines his body a little downwards, and answers to her
voice in tones not unlike the laugh of a maniac. The next moment,
he resumes his erect attitude, and again all around is silent. Ducks
of many species, the Teal, the Wigeon, the Mallard and others, are
seen passing with great rapidity, and following the course of the current
; but the Eagle heeds them not: they are at that time beneath
WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 1G1
his attention. The next moment, however, the wild trumpet-like sound
of a yet distant but approaching Swan is heard. A shriek from the
female Eagle comes across the stream,—for, kind reader, she is fully as
alert as her mate. The latter suddenly shakes the whole of his body,
and with a few touches of his bill, aided by the action of his cuticular
muscles, arranges his plumage in an instant. The snow-white bird is
now in sight: her long neck is stretched forward, her eye is on the
watch, vigilant as that of her enemy; her large wings seem with difficulty
to support the weight of her body, although they flap incessantly.
So irksome do her exertions seem, that her very legs are spread beneath
her tail, to aid her in her flight. She approaches, however. The Eagle
has marked her for his prey. As the Swan is passing the dreaded pair,
starts from his perch, in full preparation for the chase, the male bird,
with an awful scream, that to the Swan's ear brings more terror than the
report of the large duck-gun.
Now is the moment to witness the display of the Eagle's powers. He
glides through the air like a falling star, and, like a flash of lightning,
comes upon the timorous quarry, which now, in agony and despair, seeks,
by various manoeuvres, to elude the grasp of his cruel talons. It mounts,
doubles, and willingly would plunge into the stream, were it not prevented
by the Eagle, which, long possessed of the knowledge that by such a
stratagem the Swan might escape him, forces it to remain in the air by
attempting to strike it with his talons from beneath. The hope of escape
is soon given up by the Swan. It has already become much weakened,
and its strength fails at the sight of the courage and swiftness of its
antagonist. Its last gasp is about to escape, when the ferocious Eagle
strikes with his talons the under side of its wing, and with unresisted
power forces the bird to fall in a slanting direction upon the nearest
shore.
It is then, reader, that you may see the cruel spirit of this dreaded
enemy of the feathered race, whilst, exulting over his prey, he for the
first time breathes at ease. He presses down his powerful feet, and
drives his sharp claws deeper than ever into the heart of the dying Swan.
He shrieks with delight, as he feels the last convulsions of his prey, which
has now sunk under his unceasing efforts to render death as painfully
felt as it can possibly be. The female has watched every movement of her
mate; and if she did not assist him in capturing the Swan, it was not
from want of will, but merely that she felt full assurance that the power
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