Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-09-27
Uommu nlcated.
Zoology in Grant County-An 0rnith-
ologist in Montfort.

Webster defines ornithology as
"the science which treats Of birds, 4"
hence, an ornithologist is supposed
to be one skilled in that science, and
as the result of such skill should be
one familiar with the varieties, his
tory, origin, families, &c, of the
countless members of the feathered
tribe. He who pursues this study
in a true spirit is certainly commend
able, as he is engaged in laudable
and praiseworthy occupation, and
should be aided and assisted in his
researches by all good citizens hav-
ing q common interest in the inves-
tigation and advancement of this
branch of science. Ny attention has
been called to this subject by reading
an article in the Platteville Witness
signed "Montfort," headed "Grant
County Eagle, giving a glowing, brill
liant and ethereal description of one
variety of this bird, carrying him
away by the writer's gaseous and blue
ethereal flights OF grand and mys-
FERROUS imagery, beyond the realms
of common and subinary things and
minds, until he looses his balance by
reason Of his immense height and
suddenly falls to Mother Earth,
whereupon he is Immediately sur
rounded by the numerous throng Of
lookers-on who catch and examine
this wonderful birds, and then ensues
the final summing up of this grandil-
oquent, allegorical, archaeological
production-V erily, verify, great,
very great, is ''Montfort," and great.
is the bird he attempts to describe,
yet he has only given one bird OF
this numerous family. There are
other members whom he has slight
ed and to their rescue L turn my
thoughts and shall describe them by
quoting in full from the ILLUSTRATED
Encyclopedia of Animated Nature"
by John Frost, LID.
There six varieties of eagles, name
ly: Harpey, Golden, Imperial,
Washington, Great Sea and last.
though not least, the White Headed
or Bald Eagle.
The Harpey Eagle constitutes the
type of distinct section among the
birds of prey. The species compre-
hended in this genus, exclusively
American. They are characterized
by the enormous thickness and
strength of the larsi (legs), which
are feathered half way down; the
beak is strongly hooked, as are also
the talons, and the wings are of for
midable magnitude"
1.-THE Golden Eagle measures or
4 feet. The general color Of its plu-
mage is a deep brown, dashed with
tawney about the head and neck
and variegated in different parts
with darker shades. The hen often
lays three eggs, but it rarely occurs
that more than two are prolific"
Golden eggs are hard to hatch
"The Imperial Eagle is closely al
lied to the Golden Eagle, but has
longer wings. 1t is extremely pow
ertul, fierce and destructive" Zine
specimens of this bird have been
secl III Il lauCC, UuO IuSSldu OItuiu-
ologists have secured nearly all the
best varieties)
"The Washington Eagle is species
discovered by Audubon. 1t is the
largest eagle known. 1t is very rare
and has been observed only in the
United States"
The Great Sea Eagle is an inhab-
liant of nearly the whole of Europe
and of Northern Asia"
1.-The White Headed or Bald Eagle
is generally spoken of as inhabiting
the northern parts of the Old and
New Continent, but il appears to be
only a rare and occasional visitor of
the former. Throughout nearly the
whole of North America it is met
with in great abundance. His most
common method of obtaining food
consists in snatching from the fish
hawk the hard learned morsel for
which the latter has watched and
toiled in vain. Sometimes, however,
the fsh-hawks assemble in bands too
numerous for him to encounter, and