Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-06-01
IN AN EAGLES NEST.

40 AOiOIOtoaC opoeCu q HOuotCi UiuCh
snake was found on Saturday week in
the top of pine tree seventy-fve feet
high on the Red Top Farm, near
Qusntico. In the top of the same tree
were found three decoy ducks and three
bald eagles which are now on exhibi-
ton in Washington.
The party who made the capture
was composed of III. T. L. Hoyle,
DR.. Drury, and Messrs. Lehre, Conrad
and Kinslow, workmen on the farm.
The expedition was organized to cap
ture the young eagles, their eyrie hav-
ing been discovered by Mr.. Kinslow.
The principal provision taken from
Washington for the visit to the nest
were climbing spurs which were bor-
rowed from a telegraph company, a
fishing line, and two hundred feet of
stout rope.
The tree il the top of which was the
nest is one of the giants of the Virginia
forest, and it was subsequently, found
that the first limb was at distance of
sixty.fve feet from the ground. The
remaining limbs and trunk were esti-
mated to be about fifteen or twenty
feet higher, the limbs being grouped
about the top womewhat like the co.
coanut palm, not infrequent forma-
tion of these great trees.
After some vain attempts the fishing
line to which was attached the rope was
thrown over the first limb, and out OF
it was formed loop, in which Mr..
Hoyle was to make the ascent. Mr..
Hoyle was obliged to use a section of
a grape vine which was thrown around
the trunk to enable him to support him.
self in the loop as he went up. Thus
equipped he reached point about fifty
teet up, when there was slip, and to
the terror of the watchers he fell back
some inches, but recovered himself and
proceeded
Mr.. Hoyle was armed with pistol
and knife The imminent danger
was the return of the parent eagles, and
to provide against thi, the other huD-
ter stood around the trees with cooked
rifles.
The eagles, did not, however, return,
as they had just left, fact which was
proved by the young eagles when found
being in the act of tearing up young
live rabit and quivering fish.
Mr.. Hoyle reached the nest, which
he said was very large. AS soon as his
head appeared above the parapet of the
nest the eaglets showed fight. They
were about seven weeks old, but meas
ured five and halt feet in expanse of
wings, stending erect about two feet.
They backed up against the opposite
edge of the nest, screamed, and present
ed their well-formed talons for the en-
counter. Mr.. Hoyle succeeded, how
ever, in pushing them one by one over
the edge of the nest.
AS they reached the ground each one
renewed the fight with beak and talons
until he was seized and his legs tied
securely. While Mr.. Hoyle was strik
ing at them with limb he had torn
of, the snake above referred to, which
had been sleeping in the rails, came
out to take part in the fight. He was,
however, suppressed with blow OF
the stick and disappeared in the net
work of the nest.
The only way to account for this
snake in this spot is that be was car
ried up to the nest for food for the
eaglets and that he escaped from them,
making his thereafter home in the nest
W! ere he got plenty of rabbit and rat
and fish at night when the young
eagles were asleep.
The specially curious find in the nest
was the three decoy ducks. 1t is evil
dent that the old eagles swooped down
on them and carried them Oft without
waiting 10 examine what manner OF
bird they had in tow. Another article
was duck hunters cap and one or
two other strange things.