The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-04
THE PROUD BIRD
OfFrec dom and Where lie builds
His Lofty Nest
IN THE TENNESSEE MOUNTAINS,


Trainn, v-i,l,I. NO ma n.sr, Hun In
Captnrtng IIlm-Tho iiird, Valued a,
Pets an Va sln.eo".
Cincinnati Enquirer: There are many
eagles III the Tennessee mountains, and
there arb mountainccrs who are expert
catchers OF the young ea6le,s, who reap
rich rewards In return for their perIlous
Risks and adventures Eagles make
their eyries among the clefts and craGs
OF the highest mountains OF the state,
They arc found on the Stone mountains
the great Roanc. 6,996 feet high; the
Bald, $3.50 feet: the Great Smoky
Range. $3.50 feet. the Bullhead. 6,6i2
feet; on the Unaka, the Big stone, and
others, none OF them less than 5000
feet above the level OF the country at
their feet.
The American yacht Defender, which
defeated the English yacht Valkyr!e 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 OF
America are very palat!Al TO cAglcts
as pets, and the eagle cRtchcrS find
this class OF men among their best GUS
toners. There Is q well.grounded SUI
perstitlon among them that the boat or
ship that carries the king OF birds for
Its mascot wIl never so down. The SUI
perstitious belief Is like the supeTsti-
ton OF the old Romans. who. In choos-
Ing the great bird as an emblem for
thet- Imperial standard. regarded It as
the favorite messenger OF Jupiter. and
that the bird held communion with
heaven. Oriental people, too. thought
that the feathers OF an eagles tail
made their arrows invincible. The In
dian tribes among the mountains OF
East Tennessee vencrated the eagle as
their war bird, and valued It's feathers
for head-dresscs and TO decorate their
pipes OF peace. The eagle upon the
American silver dollar seems to Indicate
m abiding faith In the bird as an en-
blcm.
Value OF Young Eagle.
Young eagles bring from $40 to $50,
occasionally 500, Eagles that are OF
some age and OF great size (such
are rarely captured. however,. bring
rs high ms $500 and $500. Eagles which
have 10 be Killed while trying 10 cap
ture them are valuable to taxidermistS.
whn always find an easy market for 4
great stuffed eagle. Their feathers, es-
pecially the wing and tall feathers, are
sold for good prices.
The eagle builds rs nest upon the
top OF Il mighty tree growing far up on
the mountain, among the myriad OF
twining vines. or In the th!ckest and
almost inaccessible growth Of bushes
and shrubs. or on the summit OF a high
rock. An eagles nest is large one al
ways. and Is strongly and comfortably
built. Large sticks and branches are
lah together. nearly fiat, and bound
with twining vines. The spacious in
side Is covered with hair and MOSES,
SO infinitely woven together that no
wind can enter. The mother bird lays
two eggs. which are curlOs!thS. The
long end tapers down TO point The
color OF the egg Is ground OF brown
ish red. with many dots and spots up
on It. The egg itself Is proof OF the wild
and savage parentage.
An eagle lives from eighty to one
hundred and sixty years The young
birds are driven forth by their savage
parents 10 scratch FOR themselves as
soon ms they are able 70 fly. No train
Ing Is given them by the old bird. That
Is let TO their Wild instincts. which
hunger and necessity develop. There Is
no going back TO the old home" for
the young eagle. The mother bird tears
UP every vestlge Of the nest where they
have thrIven since birth. and while
they emit plalntivc EhrIcks tts2 old bird
| darts al them and pushes them on
the craGs or rocks, and 10 prevent fall
Ing they must take TO their wings. and
this Is how they learn 10 fly. II takes
three years for young eagle u gain
Its full and complete plUmage and for
the development of !ts strength.
Away up In the mountains the eagle
finds It as hard to gain subsistence as
do the Erumblers of the plain. The pre-
seriousness Of his existence and the
wild manner in which food is gathered
seems to give the bird more fcrocity
as 1t grows older. They range among
the mountains and valleys in pairs.
their young never following but doing
the best they can. The stern, unsocial
tyranny. beginning with the homeless
and outcast eaglet, Is continued In
later years with their mates.
Who Takes tho Prcyl
II the male bird be the stronger. tn,
most OF the prey belongs 10 him. and
he allows the female to cat n paltry
share between fierce thrusts OF his
bcak AT her. II the female Is the strong
er, (and she generally is). the male bird
covers and winccs under many fierce
blow from his unfceling wife. no mat
ter how small the morsel he gets. But
when danger threatens. no human pair
can battle SO flercely for each other as
can two eagles. The breeding season
begins about March. and each male has
but one mate during his entire he. II
the female Is killed or captured, the
surviving male becomes nm eagle her
nit and ilerccr than ever.
They are often seen near their nests
together. and when the sun Is shining
take their majestic flights straight to-
ward that great ball OF fire, until they
disappear from sigh. Sitting upon the
mounaln side. their vision Is SO keen
that they can sec far down the valley
n sheep, or young goat. big turkey or
rooster. small pig. rabbit. or large
bird. and almost In the twInlillnG Of
an eye they descend suddenly upon
their victim. One mighty grasp and n
twist of their talons and the victim Is
dead LONG before the eagle lays It down
for n rahnst An eagle can 1.-Two two mud