The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-02
ThS NATIONAL BIRD.
story or Two Eagles on Exhibition in .
Norwich (Conn.) Store.

story or Two Eagles on Exhibition In .
Norwich (Conn.) Store.
The Legislature in 1888 enacted law
making the penalty for the offense of
killing an American eagle a fine of
from S25 to $50 and the cost of prose-
cution, or an Imprisonment of not moro
than thirty days. Having adopted the
statute. it was at once placed in the
archives of inert laws, in the number of
which Connecticut is distinguished
above other States. and the American
eagle was shot with reinvigorated i'm
punity. With characteristic spirit, coun-
try hunters who prior to the passage of
the law had not cared much about
shooting American eagles. neglected no
opportunity to bring down the bird of
freedom.
For reasons not understood by local
oruithOloSists the Thames river valley
has always been l favored haunt of the
national bird. In the past fifteen years
every eagle that has been killed in the
State, with the exception of one or two
shot in Fairfield County. has been killed
in this valley. Almost daily an eagle
may be seen above this river. sometimes
mere speck against the blue dome.
often lowering over valley farmstead
to find out whether the farmer has anv
thing good to eat in his poultry yard,
or winging his way treacherously under
cover of the forests that skirt the river
banks, looking for a chance to rob an
industrious fishhawk of his fresh fish.
From the valley the eagles sometimes
journey over to Stonington. and even
to Rhode Island in search of meat, fish
and CLAIMS on the long. lonely beaches.
1t was the intent of the eagle statute
to preserve the Thames river valley as
breeding place, the legislators being
moved by a laudable fear that if
the destruction of the bird went
on there would not be eagles
enough left in the State after
few years for Fourth Of July celebra-
tions and other patriotic purposes; but
it is apparent that the American eagle
can look out for himself without the
help OF Hartford and in spite of lawless
hunters. Within week or two four
handsome birds have been shot in this
part of the State, three in the valley,
and one near Westerly. by small boy
with a rusty musket. The handsomesi
bird, which is giant, has been set up,
and is now on public exhibition in a
store window in this city, in unde-
signed evidence of the efficacy of Con-
necticut statutes. 1t is not so bald rs
the bald eagle of Westchester, but its
feathers are very thin on the top Of its
head, and there is a beautiful cape of
white feathers under its wings, with
band of white about the neck.
In the window it is in the distin-
guished company of a golden eaglc-a
rare bird in New ngland-which was
captured in s. steel trap in Preston in
the ignoble business of stealing chick
ems from Mr.. Chile, of that town, a
few weeks ago. 1t had habit of
dropping into Mr.. Guile's yard daily
and carrying off hen or a turkey, and
it had got away with about a dozen of
his fowls before the steel trap fastened
to its legs. 1t is much bigger and an
immensely stronger bird than the bald
eagle. with great spread of pinions that
could easily carry away full-grown
turkey or lamb. Mr.. Guile has no
doubt that it could have flown away
with baby if it had been fond of coun-
try babies in the rough.-NOrUich
Conn., Letter.