The Red Cloud chief., 1888-02-10
ruE BIRD.

HE UVA 0snOs
s..,v ,e rvs Esesoo .. Exhssassoa h q
Nssvseh (Csas.) Score.
The Legislature in 1883 enacted . law
making the penalty for the ofte"s' Of
killing nm American eagle . dne Of
from $ss5 to $50 and the cost Of prose-
cution. or an imprisonment Of not more
than thirty days. Having adopted the
statute. it was ct 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 Refrigerated inn
punity. With characteristic spirit. coan-
try hunters who prior to the passage OF
the law had not cared much about
shooting American eagles. neglected no
opportunity to bring down tine bird OF
freedom.
For reasons not understood by local
oruitholosists the Thames river valley
has always been \ favored haunt OF the
national bird. In the past fifteen years
every eagle that has been killed in tho
State. with the exception of One or two
shot in Fairfield County. has been killed
in this valley. Almost daily an eagle
NAV be seer above this river. sometimes
q mere speck against the blue dome.
often lowering over a valley farmstead
to find out whether the farmer has any
thing good to eat in his poultry yari.
or winginy his way treacherOusly under
cover Of the forests that skirt the river
banks. looking for . chance to rob an
industrious fishhawk Of his fresh fish.
From the valley the eagles sometimes
journey over to StOninstOn. and even
to Rhode Island in search Of meat. fish
and CLAIMS on the long. lonely beaches
It was the intent Of the eagle statute
to preserve the Thames river valley as
a breeding place. the Legislators being
moved by q laudable fear that if
the destruction Of the bird went
on there would not be eagles
enough left in the State after a
few years for Fourth Of July celebra-
tons 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 a week or two four
birds have been shot in this
part of the State. three in the valley.
and one near Westerly. by n small boy
with . rusty musket. The handsOmest
birI, which is ; giant. has been set up.
and is now on public exhibition in q
store window in this city. in unde-
evidence Of the efficacy Of Con-
necticut statutes. 1t is moi so bald rs
the bald eagle of Wcstchester. but its
are very thin on the top Of its
head. and there is a beautiful cape Of
white feathers under its wings, with 4
band Of white about the neck.
In the window it is i'm the distin-
company of a golden eagle-a
rare bird in New EnSland-which was
captured in . steel trap in Preston in
the ignoble business Of stealing chick
ems from Mr.. Guile, Of that town. a
few weeks ago. 1t had q habit Of
dropping into Mr.. Guile's yard daily |
and carrying OF a hen or a turkey. and
it hal got away with about a dozen Of
his fowls before the steel trap fastened
u its legs. 1t is . much bigger and an
stronger bird than the bald
with a great spread Of piniOns that
could easily carry away II ~fnll-srOwn
or = lamb. Mr.. Guile has no
doubt that it could have flown away
with . baby lit had been fond Of cOun-
Try babies in the rUugh-NorUicA
fC0nm.) Letter.