Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-02-04


plume, which is considered equivalent in
value to fine horse. their hunters are con-
tnually on the lookout to catch or to kill
these birds. Sometimes hole is dug, and
slightly covered, and there buried, as it
were an Indian will remain for days to-
gether, with bird on his hand as lure
for the eagle; at other times the carcass of
deer is displayed, and the indefatigable
hunter will watch, rifle in hand, with equal
patience, in some neighboring place Of con-
cealment, until his perseverance is reward
ed with success.
The distinguishing mark of chieftain in
the Highland clans was an eagles feather
in the bonnet; and among the North Amer
ican Indians, the same ornament is estimat-
ed in the highest degree. The young 1ndi-
an "brave" glories in his eagles plume, as
the emblem of might and courage, and re-
CARDS it as the most honorable decoration
with which he can adorn himself.
The marten and wild cat are favorite
morsals with eagles. A tame one, which
Mr.. st. John kept for some time, killed all
the cats about the place. Sitting notion
less on his perch, he waited quietly, and
seemingly unheedingly, till the unfortunate
animal came within reach of his chain !;
then down he few, and enveloping the cat
with his wings, seized her in his powerful
talons, with one foot planted firmly on Ter
loins, and the other on her threat, and moth
ing more was seen of poor Glimalkin, ex-
cept her skin, which the eagle lett empty
and turned inside out, like rabbit skin
hung up by the cook; the whole OF the car
cass, bones and ALL being slowed away in
the birds capacious nav.
The rapidity with which a strong bird of
prey flies in pursuit of his quarry is incon-
ceivaby great the flight of hawk is cal
culated at one hundred and fifty miles an
hour, and the anecdotc of the falcon be-
longing to Henry IV,of France, which flew
in one day from Fontainebleau to Malta, a
distance of thirteen hundred and fifty miles,
is we'll authenticated.
Until tine young eagles are fully able to
fly and maintain themselves, the old birds
keep them supplied with provisions most
abundantly. Smith, in his History of Ker-
ry," relates that poor man in that coun-
ty got comfortable subsistence for his fam
ilv, during famine, by robbing an eagles
nest of the food brought for the eaglets,
whose period of helplessness he protracted
by clipping their wings; but the most curious
account OF one of these eagle-nest larders
is related by gentleman who was visiting
at friends house in Scotland, near which
was nest, which for several summers two
eagles had occupied. 1t was on a rock, land
within few yards of it was stone about
six feet long, and nearly as broad and up
on this stone almost constantly, but always
when they had young, there were to be
found grouse, ,paltrdses ha es, rabbits ducks,
snlpes, rats, nice, and sometimes kids, ,fawns
and lambs. When the eaglets were able TO
hop the length Of this stone the eagles often
brou h hares and rabbits alive, and Plac-
ing them before their young, taught them to
kill and tear them to pieces, just as cat
teaches lis kittens TO kill nice. Sometimes,
it seems, the hares got off from the young
ones whilst they were amusing themselves
with them, and one day rabbit escaped In
to hole where the old eagle could not find it.
Another day. young fox cub was brought,
which, after it had fought well and desper-
atey bittin the young ones, attempted TO
make its escape up the hill, and would prob
ably have succeeded, had not shepherd,
who was watching the motions of the eagles
with a view to shoot them, prevented IT.
As the eagles kept what might be call
ed such an excellent store-house, the
gentleman said that, whenever visiters came
unexpectedly, he was in the habit Of send
ing his servants to see what his neighbors
the eagles had to spare, and that they
scarcely ever returned without some dainty
dishes, all the better for being rather high.
| There are many instances on record OF
infants being carried away by the larger birds
oeprey, and in fact, there is scarcely dis
trict infested by them which has not some
tale of the sort A deplorable circumstance
occurred in Sweden, which has become
matter of tradition from its melancholy in
terest. A young and blooming mother,
whilst occupied in the fields, had laid her
first born, the pride of her heart, on the
ground a short distance from her; the
baby was TRANQUILITY sleeping, when sud,
denly huge eagle swooped down and car
ried him off in his talons. In vain the moth
er pursued with frantic cries; in vain
she implored aid from others; for consid
cradle time the screams of the poor infan
wsre heard, but they gradually became faint
or ant, fainter in the distance, aud the
wretched mother saw her child no more.
The shock Was too much-her reason lei
its seat, and she, the pride and ornamen
of the village, became the inmate OF ~
natic asylum On high pointed pinnacle
Of inaccessible rock near the summit OF the
Jung Frau, one of the loftiest Alps, there
were long to be seen Autteringin the breeze
the tattered remains of the clothing OF, an
/ ir fant which had been carried thither ane
leasurety devoured by lammergever.
Tie awful gulf into which the waters tum'
bic at the Horseshoe Fall Of Niagara IS
favorite resort of the eagles. They may De
seen sailing about in the mist wien rise' =
from the turbulent waters, with an ease :
elegance of motion almost sublime.
The attraction that leads these birds te
the Falls is the swollen carcasses swep
down the river, and precipitated over the
cateract. Wilson saw an eagle seated OF
dead horse, keeping whole flock OF yul
lures at distance till he had satisfied him
self; and, on another occasion, wher
thousands oftree-squirrels of had been drown
ed in their migration across the Ohio, and
hosts of vultures had collected, the sudder
appearance of bald eagle sent them all of
and the eagle kept sole possession for many
days.
Notwithstandingthe poetical description W.