The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-15

even five days. upon gorglng meal
They prey upon all SORTS OF large birds,
nsh. lambs. kids. and goats. Oftentimes.
wien a large calf or goat is to be at
tackled and carried off. four or six Of
them will unite and carry Off the carcass,
when they will Immediately begin 10 fight
IL out TO see which of them Is entitled
TO the choicest bits, and IL Is truly a
survival OF the fittest In such combats as
these.
An eagle is always fully confident of
his strength. and rarely overreaches him
self i'm his raDacious desire FOR prey. The
minuteness of their vision. for they can
take I'm at searching glance the pres
ence of desirable prey in radius OF
many miles on mountain valley. forest,
swamp. or field, humanity cannot COM
prehend. With this wonderful power or
sight IS combined a swiftness of flight
equally as wonderful In single night
and I'm a day a full-grown eagle can fly
q thousand miles. The flight OF an eagle
after prev is like q flash Of lightning.
and he PUSHES past like falling meteor.
descending with fearful force upon his
victim. which is staggered at the blow
OF his cruel talons. Oitentimes the Wis
itor I'm the Tennessee mountains can just
sec him like a little speck In the sky,
moving In majestic curves about the
crest Of a far-away peak. The sight-secrs
and mOuntaincers who love 10 watch
them always choose the break OF dawn
or a calm sunset. Ihey wheel In circles
and glide about in horizontal sweeps
just before starting out on a days hunt
or I'm settling for the night.
When lingering by the mountain rivers
watching for ducks or geese. or even fish.
a pair of eagles will display their natural
shrewdness. They swoOp from opposite
directions upon the fowl. which tries to
escapc by diving. and could outwit one
eagle. but suddenly as tho fowl comes
TO the surface Of the water the second
eagle scizes him.
Eagles arc captured by expert noun
taineers, who spy upon tho parent bird
building her nest, and wait for the
breeding season. After due time they
scale the mountains and. we'll armed
for the inevitable fight with the parent
birds. 70 TO these mountain eyries. Of
tentimcs four men are required 10 let
one OF them down a steep precipce or
cliff while two OF them. dead shots with
the rife shoot and kill the old birds
upon their first approach. for II fares IN
with the daring rOhher who attempts
10 secure the young birds with none to
protect but himself. In this way are
many Of the old birds killed for the tax
idermists or for feathers. while the
eaglets are borne away and Gagged for n
good sale. An eagle captured at first Is
IN interesting prisoner. Frequently
they utter coarse cries sullen and saw
age. breathing heavily and nercely all
the while Their eyes dart fire and their
low brows and fat foreheads are con-
torted into hateful expressions. They
win dart nercoly M the bars 81 their
iron cages. and finding themselves I'M
able 10 reach their hated captors. draw
Themselves up and utter terrific plants
and whines. They are always restless
while i'm cartivitv. due. Of course TO
their natures. Rarely an eagle is cap
tured in a huge trap baitod with a small
lamb. Attempts have been made. too
I'm the Tennessee mountains TO capture
them I'm nets but this IS impracticahle.
or else the mountaineers prefer 10 can
ture them when young by visiting their
nests.-Cincinnat Enquirer.