Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-01-15
HAUNTS OF THE EAGLE.



nss ses of Tennessee are found many
bird. the bald-hcaded eagle, which
makes its eyrie among the lofty and
ragged clefts and crags and pinnacles
OF the ranges. 1t is found on the
stone Mountain. the great Rosnc,
6296 feet high. on the Bald az $3.50
feet. and the Greot Smoky range,
which rises $3.50 feet. on the Bull
head and in many othcr lofty places.
For these splendid birds, Gays a cor
respondent of the New York Post,
there ia a never-failing dem0nd. and
rs a result there are many mountain
GERS who have become expert catch
ers of these mountain prizes, and who
often reap rich rewards In return for
perilous risks and daring adventures.
Young eagles bring from SO TO $50.
and occasionally 500, while eagles
that are OF some age and Of great size
cost as much as $500, these being
rarely captured, however. Eagles
which are killed in the attempt 70 cap
ture them are valuable 20 taxidermists,
who always find an easy market for
these great stuffed birds. Their
feathers, especially those Of wing and
tail. are Likewise sold for good prices
The eagle either builds its nest upon
the top Of mighty tree growing far
/ up on the mountain among myriads
/ of twining vines. and the thickest aud
most inaccessible bushes OF shrubs. or
on the summit Of high rock II is
always a large one. strongly and com
fortably built large sticks and
branches being laid together. nearly
fiat and bound with twining vines
The spacious inside IL covered with
hair and MOSES, SO infinitely woven
together that no wind can penetrate.
/ In this abode the mother bird laws two
eggs, which are great cgriosities The
long end of tn" egg tapers down 20
point, while it, color Is a dirt or
brovnish red. with many dots and
spots upon il. The young birds are
driven forth from the nest by their
savage parents 20 scratch for them
selves a. soon as .hey are able 20 fly.
and no training whatever is given
them by the old bird. That is left 20
their instinct, which hunger and
necessity develop. There il no going
back % the old home for the young
eagle, for the mother bird at once
tears up every vestige OF the nest
where they have thriver~-since birth.
and while they emit Plaintive shrieks,
darts a. them and pushes them OF the
crags or rocks. and as they must take
10 their wings or fall. this Is how they
learn 70 fy az once. IL takes three
years for a young eagle 60 gain its full
and complete plumage aud for the de
velopment OF its strength. Once full
grown. provided he does no. meet
with a violent death. an eagle should
live between thirty and 100 years.
The eagles range among the noun
tains and valleys in pairs, their young
never following. but doing the best
they can by themselves. The stern,
unsOcial tyranny Of the older birds,
beginning with the casting out OF
the eaglets, maniiests itself in later
years In their treatment OF their mates.
If the male bird be stronger, most
OF the prey belongs 70 him, aud be al
lows the female % eat but u paltrY
share between fierce thrusts OF hi.
bcak. III the female Is the stronger
land she generally is. the male bird
covers aud winces under many a fierce
blow from has pnfeeling wife, no mat
ter how small the morsel he is striving
10 get But when danger threatens
no human pair battle so formidabl,
for themselves aud each other as dt
two eagles. Il is = noteworthy fac
that each male has but one mate dur
ing his lifetime. II the female i
killed or captured. the surviving NAL,
becomes an eagle hermit and fierce
than ever
Eagles are often seen near thei
nests together, but when the sun /
shining they frequently take thei
majestic flight straight toward it, IN
til they disappear from sight. Sit
ting upon the mountainside thei
!. vision is so keen that they can see ia
down in the valley sheep or youn,
goat, q big turkey or rooster, a SINAI
pig. a rabbit. or partridge, aud al
most instantaneously they descen
upon their victim. Often, when
large calf or goat is to be attacked an
carried OF, four or six of the grea
birds will unite and remove the car
cass TO a safe spot, when they will i'm
mediately begin to fight it out to Sc
Z which of them il entitled 10 th
choicest bits, and it is truly q survivo
of the fittest IN such combats "a these