The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-22
THE EAGLE At HOME.
He Mates Only Onre In His life and
Compeis Hts Young to shift for
Themselves withcut Preparatory
Trafning-Riaks Young Mcunsafn-
GERS Run In Capturing Him.

There are many eagles in the Tennessee
mountains. and there arr. mcunta.nsefs
who are expert catchers of the young
eagiets. who reap rich rewards IN return
for their periIous risks end adventures.
Eagles make their eyries anong the cieiss
and crags OF the highest mountains OF kae
state. They are found on the stone noun
tain. the great Roane $50 feet high; the
Rssa. $50 feet. the Great Smoky range,
s.s3s feet; the Bulihead. s:~la feet; on the
Jaaka. the Big stone. and others, none
of them less than $500 feet above the level
of the country at their feet
The American yacht Defender. which
defeated the English yacht Nalkyris III IN
the famous international race last year.
carried as its mascots TWO young englets
captured in the Tennessee mountains.
Private owners of yachts. captains of Big
ocean liners. and the steamboat men OF
the big rivers in America are very partial
TO eagiets as pets. and the eagle catcners
ind this class of men among their best
customers. There is wes-grounded SUI
perstitlon among them thar the boat or
ship that carries the king of birds Tor It's
mascot will never go down. The supersu-
tious belief is like the superstition OF the
old Romans, who. In choosing the great
bird as an emblem for their Imperial
standard. regarded IL the favorite mes
senger of Jupiter. and that the bird held
communion with heaven. Oriental people,
too. fought that the feathers OF an
eagles tail made their arrows invincinlS-
The Indian tribes among the mountains
of East Tennessee venerated the eagle a.
their war bird. and valued its feathers for
headuresses and TO decorate their pipes OF
peace. The eagle upon the American sill
yer dollar seems 10 indicate an abiding
faith in the bird as emblem.
Young eagles bring from $40 10 $50, occa-
sionally $780, Eagles that are of some age
and of a great size tsuch are rarely cap
tured, however, bring as high as $500 ana
$500. Eagles which have to be killed while
trying TO capture them are valuable 10
taxidermis,s. who always find an easy
market for a great stuffed eagle. Their
feathers. especially the wing and tail
feathers, are sold for good prices.
The eagle builds Its nest upon rhe top of
a mighty tree growing far up on the
mountain. among the myriad OF twining
vines. or in the th.ckest and almost mac
cessble growth of bushes and shrubs. or
on the summit of a high rock An eagle ;
nest is large one always. and is strongly
and comfortably built. Large sticks and
branches are laid together. nearly fiat,
and bound with twin:ng vines The spa
cious inside is covered with hair and
MOSES, so infinitely woven together that
no wind can enter. The mother bird lays
two eggs, which are cur.os.ties. The long
end tapers down TO a point Tie color OF
the egg Is ground of brown.sh red. with
many dots and spots upon II. The egg u
self Is proof of the wild and savage pa
Tentage.
An eagle lives from 50 TO 1so years. The
young birds are driven forth by their saw
age parents TO scratch for themselves as
soon as they are able 10 fly, No training
is given them by the old bird. That is left
10 their wild instincts, Which hunger ana
necessity develop. There is no going
back to the old home" for the young
eagle The mother bird tears up every
svest.ge OF the nest where they have thriV-
en- since birth. and while they emit plant
I've shrieks the old bird darts at them and
pushes them off the crags or rocks. ana
10 prevent falling they must take to their
wings, and this is how they learn 10 ny.
III takes three years for young eagle TO
gain It's full and complete piumage and for
the development OF its strength.
Away up in the mountains tho eagle
finds 4 as hard to gain subsistence as do
the grumblers OF the plain. The preeari-
BUSINESS of his existence and the wild man
ner in which food IS gathered seems 10
older They range among the mountains
and valleys in pairs, their Young never fol-
lowing, but doing the best they can The
stern. unsocial tyranny. beginning with
the homeless and outcast eaglet. is con-
tinued in later years with their mates
Cincinnati Enquirer.