The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-05-22
TENNESSEE EAGLES.
A NATURAL MOUNTAIN HOME FOR
TIE E.RD OF FREEDOM.

and Sometimes Lives Ico Years-aIaeiEC
and the Treatment of the Young-Hov
They Are Captured.
There are many eagles i'll the Tennes-
see moantains, ard there are mountain
GERS who aro e1rc-t catchcg= Of the
youra ee~,cts, who reap rich rewards in
reta-n fer 1aeir perilous risks md ad-
ventures. Eagles make their eyries
ameHg the cIefts and ccaee,s Of the high
est mountains Of the state. They are
found Oh tho Stcno mountain, the great
Roaue, e,296 feet high; the Bald, $3.50
feet; the Great Smoky range, 6,636
feet; the Bullhead, 6,6I2 feet; Oh the
Unaka, the Big Stone and others, none
Of them less than 1000 feet above tie
level Of the country at their feet.
Young eagles bring from $40 to $50,
occasionally 500. Eagles that are of
some age and OF q groat size ssuch are
rarely captured. however, bring as high
as $500 and $500. Eagles which have to
be killed while trying to capture them
are valuable to taSidoTmists, who IL
ways frd an easy market for q great
stuffed eagle. Their feathers, especially
the wing and tail feathers, are sold for
good prices.
The eagle builds its nest upon the top
of a mighty tree growing far up on the
mountain afncng the myriad Of twining
vines, or in tie thicEest and almost in
accessible growth Of bushes and shrubs,
OF on the Summit Of 4 high rock. An
eagles nest ID d large one always, and
is strongly and comfortably built. Large
sticks and branches are laid together,
nearly fat, and bound with twiGing
vines. The spacious inside is covered
with hair and racsses so infinitely woven
together that 70 wind can enter. The
mother bid !ays tTc CO., which ;re
cur:asities. Tic long end tapcrs down
to a point. The cclcr q tie esq is .
ground CT krovn;sh red, with many dots
ard spots upon it. The egg itself is
proof of the wild ard savage pareutage.
An eagle lives from 50 to lG0 years.
Tho young birds are dri7en forth by
their savage parents toscratch for them
selves as sccn as they are able to fl. No
training is r;vea them by the old bird.
: That is left To their wild instincts,
which hunger and necessity develop.
There is 10 going ''Eack to the old
home" for The young eagle. The mother
bird tears up ever vestige Of the nest
where they have thrivca since birth, and
while they emit plailtiTe shrieks the
oil bird darts at them and pushes them
off the crags Or rocks, and to prevent
falling they must take to their wings,
and this is how they learn to fly. II
takes three years for Q young eagle tc
gain its full and complete plEmage and
strength.
Away up il the mountains the eagle
finds it rs hard togain subsistence as dc
the grulnblers Of the Rain, The nEecari
BUSINESS Of its existence ard the wild
manner in which food il gathered seem
to give the bird f~erocity rs it grows
older. They ranse amcng Tic mountains
and valleys ID pairs, their young never
following, but doing the best they can
The stern, Insoeial tyranny. beginning
with the homeless and oatcast eaglet, il
continued il later years with Their
mates.
If the male bird be the stronger, thu
most of tho Prey belorgs to him, and b
allows the female 10 cat 4 paltry shar'
between fierce thrusts Of his bcak at her
If the female IS the stronger {aad sh'
generally isl, the male bird covers ant
winces under many q fierce blow from
his unfeeling wife, 10 matter how small
the morsel he gets. But when DANCE
threatens, no human pair can battle $
fercely for each other as can two eagles
The breeding season begins about March
and each male has but i mate durinl
his entire life. II the female is kille'
or eaptured, the surviving male become
an eagle hermit and fiercer than ever.
They are often seen near their nest
together, and when the sun is shinin'
take their majestic flights straight tc
ward that great ball Of fire until the,
disaDnear from sight Sitting upon th