The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-10-07
Proves, Of thu Bsld Esxl,.


Most Of u recent authors havo
trestsd the bald eagle a. . sluggish.
~fsh-eHfing bird, whose entire stock Of
surplus energy u devoted to robbing .
more industrious and less powerful
neighbor. That II has not entirely lost
its old-time daring, so graphically des-
cribed BY Audubon. the following ac-
count Will show. I am indebted for my
facts to Nathan Cobb, one Of the old
est and most reliable OF the profession
al duck-shooters at Cobb's Island, Va.
The species is = permanent resident in
the neighborhood Of the island, though
- Is not often seen during the summer
months. A few. however, arc said 10
breed upon the opposite mainland.
In the winter the eagles arc much
more numerous than at any other time
Of b year; and my informant has, on
several occasions, seen as many as
eight At once. At this season. the
~neighborlng bays. and creeks swarm
with Wild fowl, and upon these the
eagles principally live. He has never
known them to capture fish Of any
Kind. although they not unfrequently
rob the fish-hawk. Geese and brant
form their favorite food, and the ad-
dress displayed In their capture is very
remarkable. The poor victim has APP
parently not the slightest chance for
escape. The eagles flight. ordinarily
slow and somewhat heavy, becomes, In
tho excitement OF the pursuit, exceed.
ingly swift and graceful; and the fugi-
tive is quickly overtnken. When close
upon lis quarry. the eagle suddenly
sweeps beneath 1t, and, turning back
downward. thrusts its powerful talons
up into Its breast. A brant or duck is
carried oil bodily TO the nearest marsh
or sand-bar. but u Canada goose is too
heavy To be thus easily disposed Of.
The two great birds fall together TO tho
water beneath, where tho eagle literally
lows his prize along tho surface until
the shore 10 reached. In this way, one
has been known TO drag . large goose
Tor nearly half q mile.
A single bird il usually seized at the
first attempt. but Mr.. Cobb has seen
an eagle repeatedly miss his aim whom
In the midst of a large flock. The
very abundance Of opportunities seem
to bewilder him. and no thrusts wildly
and harmlessly In all directions; but,
after the crowding masses have become
scattered by his onslaught, a separate
individual Is selected. and quickly over
taken and killed.
Although the larger and heavier
waterfowl are more likely to DO at
tackled. the royal bird seems TO find lit
tie difficulty in overhauling the swiftest
flying ducks. The latter. however,
often escape by diving. although in
shallow water this esource sometimes
proves Of no avail. as the eagle follows
their course. and seizes them - they
rise near the surface. Under favorable
conditions, even grebes are sometimes
captured.
In winter shooting tho sportsman
loses many n wounded goose or brant
by tho eagles. They seem fully aware
OF the advantages to be gained by main
tanning q close espionage upon tho gum
ner's movements. and a bird that falls
ut any considerable distance from tho
stand is often seized and borne away
before 1t can be recovered. Universal
ly hated as he is by nj the gunners of
this island, the eagle In not unfrequent-
ly killed by them in the following cu-
rious manner. The stools" or decoys,
which are relied upon to dupe tho
wary waterfowl. sometimes deceive
even the keen-eyed bird Of prey; and.
In his eagerness to secure one OF tho
unsuspecting flock, no swoops upon o
wooden victim, and Is riddled by o
fatal discharge from tho circle Of sea-
weed where the sportsman lies con-
cealed. On several occasions. when tho
m~arauder's approach did not happen
70 be observed. Nj. Cobb has had q de-
coy lifted from the water and carried
off several yards before the eagle dis
covered his mistake William BreD-
sket. IN BuHekin Mutual Club.