Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-07


III the female is the stronger nnd she
generally isl, the male bird covers and
winces under many a fierce blow from his
unfeeling wife, no matter how small the
mOrsel he gets. But when danger
threatens, no human pair can battle 50
fiercely for each other as can two eagles.
The breeding season begins about March,
and each male has but one mate during
his entire life. IL the female Is killed or
captured, the surviving male becomes an
eagle hermit and hercer than ever.
They are often seen near their nests
together, and when the sun Is shining
take their majestic flights straight toward
that great ball of fire, until they dis
appear from sight. Sitting upon the
mountain side, their vision IS so keen
that they can see far down the valley
sheep or young goat, a big turkey or
rooster a small pig, rabbit, or large
bird, and almost in the twinkling Of an
eye they descend suddenly upon their
victim. one mighty grasp and twist or
their talons and the victim is dead long
before the eagle lays it down for re-
past. An eagle can live two and three
days, and even five days, upon gorging
meal. They prey upon all sorts OF large
birds, fish, lambs, kids. and goats. Often
times, when a large calf or goat IS to be
attacked and carried Off, four or six Of
them will unite and carry off the carcass,
when they will Immediately begin to night
If out to see which OF them is entitled
to the choicest bits, and It is truly
survival Of the nttest in such combats as
these.
KNOW THEIR STRENGTH.
An eagle is always fully confident Of his
strength, and rarely over-reaches him
self in his rapacious desire for prey. The
minuteness Of their vision, for they car
take in at a searching glance the pre-
sence Of desirable prey in radius OF
many miles. on mountain, valley, forest.
swamp, or field, humanity cannot com
prehend With this wonderful power OF
sight is combined a swiftness of flight
equally as wonderful. In a single night
and In a day a fuli-grown eagle can fly
a thousand miles The flight of an eagle
after his prey is like a flash OF
lightning, and he rushcs past ike a fail
ing meteor, descending with fearful force
upon his victim which is staggered at
the blow of his cruel talons Often
times the visitor in the Tennessee noun
tains can just see him like a little speck
in the sky moving in majestic curves
about the crest Of a far-aWay peak. The
sight-seers and mOuntaineers who love 10
watch them always choose the break OF
dawn or a calm sunset. They wheel in
circles and glide about in horizontal
sweeps just before starting out-on days
hunt or in settling for the night.
When lingering by the mountain rivers
watching for ducks or geese, or even FISH.
pair Of eagles will display their natural
shrewdness. They swoop from opposite
directions upon the fowl. which tries TO
escape by diving, and could outwit one
eagle, but suddenly as the fowl comes
to the surface OF the water, the second
eagle SEXES him.
HOW THEY ARE CAUGHT.
Eagles are captured by expert noun
taineers, who spy upon the parent bird
building her nest, and wait for the
breeding season. After due time, they
scale the mountains, and. well-armed for
the inevitable fight with the parent birds,
90 to these mountain eyries. Often
times four men are required to let one
OF them down on a steep precipice or
cliff, while two of them, dead shots with
the rifle, shoot and kill the old birds upon
their first approach, for IL fares III with
the daring robber who attempts 10 Sc
cure the young birds with none TO pro-
tect but himself. In this way are many
OF the old birds killed for the taxider-
mists or Tor feathers, while the
eaglets are borne away and Gagged for
a good sale. An eagle captured at first
Is an uninteresting prisoner. Frequent
ly they utter coarse cries, sullen and
savage, breathing heavily and fiercely
all the while. Their eyes dart fire, their
low brOws and fiat foreheads are con-
torted into hateful expressions. They will
dart fiercely at the bars OF thor iron
cages, and, finding themselves unable to
reach their hated captors, draw them
selves up and utter terrific plants and
whines- They are always restless while
In captivity, due, or course. TO their
natures Rarely an eagle IS captured
I'm huge trap baited with a small lamb
Attempts have been made, too. In the
Tennessee mountains, TO capture them
in nets. but this Is impracticable. or
else the mountainous prefer to capture
them when young by visiting their nests