The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-04-20

,,s treatment of the Young-How
r.ey Are Captured
r,o,e are many eagles in the Tennes-
900 mountains, and there are mountain
" who are expert catchers of the
coqlets, who reap rich rewards in
- for their pcrilous risks and adj
nontures Eagles make their eyries
'nouo the clefts and crags of the high
w. mountains of the state. They are
I'll an the Stone mountain, the great
~ q 900 feet high; the Bald, D, $50
ios. tho Great Smoky range, $685.
49, 49,, the Bullhcad, 6,6l2 feet; on the
rnaLo the Big Stone and others, none
- ,bem less than 5000 feet above the
,ovel of the country at their feet
yonng eagles bring from $40 TO $50,
oocasionally 800. Eagles that are of
ONO ace and of great size (such are
I'll. conturcd. however, bring as high
$50 Sgoo and $500. Eagles which have to
Io Killed while trying to capture them
oro valuable 10 taxidermists, who al
'rave find an easy market for great |
stntfed eagle. Their feathers, especially |
fine wing and tail feathers, are sold for
good prices.
The eagle builds its nest upon the top
If a mighty tree growing far up on the
,,,orntain among the myriad of twining
ines or in the thickest and almost i'll
accessible growth of bushes and shrubs,
ny on the summit of q high rock. An
oaole's nest is "a large one always, and
;s strongly and comfortably built. Large
sticks and branches are laid together
nearly fiat, and bound with twining
vines. The spacious inside is covered
with hair and MOSES so infinitely woven
together that no wind can enter The
mother bird lays two eggs, which are
curiosities. The long end tapers down
~ point. The color OF the egg Is
oround of brownish led, with many dots
and spots upon it. The egg itself Is
nroof of the wild and savage parentage
An eagle lives from 80 to l6O years
The Young birds are driven forth by
their savage parents to scratch Tor them
selves ms soon as they are able to fly. NO
training is given them by the old bird.
That is left to their wild instincts,
which hunger and necessity develop.
There ia no going "back TO the ola
home" for the young eagle. The mother
bird tears ND ever vestige of the nest
where they have thriven since BIRTH ana
while they emit plaintive shrieks 'he
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. IL
takes three years for young eagle 10
gain its full and complete plumage anu
strength.
AWAY ND in the mountains the eagle
finds il ms hard to gain subsistence as &c
the grumblers of the plain. The plecari
business of its existence and tne VIII
manner in which food is gathered seen
70 give the bird ferocity as IL grow
older. They range among the mountains
and valleys in pairs, their young neVe
following. but doing the best they can
The stern, unsocial tyranny, beginning
with the homeless and outcast eaSle.'
continued in later years with thei
mates.
IL the male bird be the stronger III
most of the prey belongs to him. anu Il
allows the female to eat pal'iy shai
between fierce thrusts of hls Deak Ut he'
If the female is the stronger cana si
generally isl. the male bird covers an
winces under many fierce blow lroi
his unfeeling wife, no matter now sln"
the morsel he gets. But when u"ns'
threatens, no human PAIR can paV'l1
fiercely for each other as can two eagle
The breeding season begins about MAY
and each male has but one mate uu ',,.
his entire life If the female Is hiil'
or captured, the surviving male pecom
an eagle hermit and fiercer thah ever.
They are often seen near tnelr h.'
together, and when the sun is shini.
take their majestic flights straien.
ward that great ball OF nIe uh'ii ~ !.
disappear from sight Sitting upon y
mountain side, their vision is 50 NJ n,
that they can see, far down the van
sheep or young goat, pig 'uiA,S
rooster, small pig, rabbit or TO-
bird, and almost in the twlnkiins ~
eve thew descend suddenly upon .n'
victim. One mighty grasp ana ="
of their talons and the victim Is ue'
long before the eagle lays 1t down ~
repast An eagle can live two anu VI,
days, and even five days, upon 81
ing meal. They prey upon all sor's '
large birds. fish, lambs, kids anu goo
Oftentimes, when "a large cali OF so.'
to be attacked and carried on iosi
six of them will unite and carry On
the carcass, when they will imil '.nt
" begin to fight it out to see WIZ VIII
them is entitled to the choicest e ,u's, :
it is truly survival OF the h'''s'
such combats as these. o
Eagles are captured by expert inI
taineers. who spy upon the paren.
building her nest and wal, tim no. +,
breeding season. After due tlne 60 !,
scale the mountains, and, wen ~,
for the inevitable fight with 'ne - p''
birds, 20 to these mountain eyrl "S 20
tentimes four men are required 70