Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-09-08


can follow him, he is again among the
clouds.
The Washington, or true national eagle
of the United States is far larger than
any other species, and prominent dis
tinctive characteristic he has in the man
ner of his fight, which is entirely dissimi-
lar, and for more grand and imposing
than that OF any inbabitant of the air.
OF this Audubon makes particular note.
His heighth is between three and four
feet, his breadth between the tips Of tho
wings is over ten feet, his beak and claws
are remarkably heavy and powerful aud
so lightning-Hke his defensive motions.
that when full-grown he could with ease
kill the strongest man in personal com-
bat.
From the old descriptions handed down
to US, Of the habits and bravery Of the
eagle referred to last century, by the
founders Of our Republic, there can exist
no doubt tIrat this is the bird chosen BY
them, as typiGing the independence and
magniiicencc of the United States. The
only manner i'll which we can possibly ac-
count for The fact Of the usurpation by
the ba'd eagle. OF the honor rightfully
belonging to the Great Washington Eagle,
is this. The bald eagle continually re.
mains close by, and even some distance
within the line of civilization, living on
what he can steal from smaller birds, and
contcsting with common buzzards for car
ron. Thus, and also by his bullying and
noisy habits, the bald eagle has attracted
first the general attention, and next the
admiration ct the unthiuhiRg.
On the contrary, the Great Eag'e Of
Washington seldom, even in his almost
boundcss wilderness home ever approach
es sufficiently near to the solitary hunter
to be watched in his fight Or habits. Au.
dubon who spent long years in searching
for this monarch Of the air. saw him only
five times. And, as though Nature her.
self, to reward the celebrated naturalist's
perseverance, had interceded with Fate,
the third time Audubon beheld the Eagle
he succeeded in bringing him down, and
adding him to his specimens. In his re-
searches in the far West. audubon had
often heard from the lips Of hunters.
trappcrs and lrdiaDs, various rumors #
the Big War Eagle" and from the brok.
en- descriptions e thus received, he be-
! came satisfied that there existed on the
American continent bird of mighty
wing and noble habits With all the en-.
thusiasm OF his nature. Audubon Set out
in search of it. and for long time roam-
ed about through heat and cold, suffering
the pangs of hunger and thirst. in pursuit.
of his cherished object. From the Guf
OF Mexico, up to the Canada line, Audu-
bon had searched, and searched in vain.
BY this time he concluded that the story
must be il fable, passed from lip to lip Of
the hunters and Indians, like many other
of their wild legends, and, accordingly, te
had nearly concluded to give up all thot'
of pursuing the matter further.
One afternoon, shortly subsequent to
this, as he was about entering canoe on
the head-wstcrs Of the Mississippi river,
his companion, Canadian Voycgcur, ut
tered an exclamation, and pointed to tho
sky above. Audubon glanced up, and
there, sailing through the clear blue vault
OF Heaven, he behcld a strange and gi-
gan,ic bird, the hinge form and vast wings
set cut in bod relief by the powerful sun
light. For few moment, the great nat
urais, eazea upward at the vision, and
then lost i, for with IA loud, thrilling
scream, the majestic eagle, poising itself,
dashed away, like bolt of lightning,
across tae forest behind.
That, that is the Big War Eagle Of
the American wilderness - was all that
Audubon said. From that In, lnentary
inspection, he wrote and sent heme an ac-
count Of the great eagle 81 name it,"
said he 1.-The Great Eagle of Washington.
1t is cminontly worthy Of so noble dis
tiaetion.'
But naturalists laughed at Audubon.
and 70: years alterward the Bird OF
Washington Was held to be a myth, like
tho ro,k Of Sinhal the Sailor. By this
time Aalubon more than proved the cor.
reetress OF his glowing description of the
Was lngton Eagle; for with his own
band, and after two years of incessart
toll, exposure and suffering he succeeded
il obtaining specimen Of this monarch
o'thc tcaircrol race. We append his
own account OF the event.
Z" come at last TO the day which had
SO often and 50 ardentIy desired. Two
years had gone hy since the discovery of
the first uest. in lruitless excurs;o $; but
my wishes were 10 longer to remain un-
sratilied. In returning from the little
village Of Henderson, to the house of DR..
Hankin, about mile distant, I saw an
eagle rise from small enclosure, not q
hundred yards before mo, and alight upon
Il low tree, branching over the road. I
prepared my double barrelled fowIing-
piece, which ! constantly carry. and went
slowly and cautiously towards him.
! Quite tearlessIy he awaited my approach.
/ looking upon me with undanutcd eye.
fired aud he fell before I reached him
he was dead. With what delight did [
survey the magnificent bird F.! Had the
finest salmor ever pleased him as he did
me? Never ran and presented him
to my friend, with a pride which they
alone can feel, who, like me, have devoted
themselves from their earliest childhood
to such pursuits, and who have derived
from them their lirst pleasures
The maine wlsch have chosen for
this new species of eagle. The Bird Of
W ashinStou. may. by some, be considered
/ n .,n1 upfft kuf - se -.