The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-11

will not hesitate to attack larger animals
or even man himself. II Is probably the
fercest OF all flying birds and IL of most
uninviting cast OF countenance. When
seen in fun face It's head looks like that
OF one of those creatures of mythology,
the harpies, which had the head and face
OF woman and the body Of n bird of
prey. In Grecian mythology the Harries
were ravening creatures. defiling every
thing they touched and carrying away
human beings to devour them Who
knows? Perhaps. after all, the Harpy
myth was not entirely myth Perhaps
In earlier times the harry eagle may have
existed in Greece and through the course
OF the ages tradition magnihed the bird
into the obscene and fierce creature of
mythology Some OF the stories the South
American Indians tell OF the harry eagle
would not need to be embellished much to
n the Greek description OF the Harry.
There are those who not only demand
second placeror the bustard. but are In
clined to give TO him first place among the
birds that fly. Even such an eminent au-
thority as ]. T. Hartins of London, seems
to incline that way. But the biggest bus
tard Mr. Harting cites Is the Seville ous-
tard, with weight OF thirty pounds and
the biggest authentic spread of wings he
cites "a only seven feet three inches. The
German naturalist, the younger Naumann,
tells OF bustards weighing thirty-two
pounds. and says that he has been assured
OF the former existence OF specimens OF
the bird weighing thirty-hve or thirty
eight pounds. From the earliest times the
flesh of the bustard has been the delight
OF epicures. which will account for Its ex-
tincton In the British isles and the fact
that II Is now not common In Northwest
ern Europe 1t Il 4 shy bird and lives
largely on vegetable diet. When on the
wing IT'S flight Is as majestic as that OF
the eagle. In the last century the bustard
began TO be extremely rare In England.
and in the early part OF the century the
birds we're met with only occasionally in
out-of-the-way places What were the
last two recorded British bustards
OF the old stock were killed In
Norfolk In 1888. but hardly
month passes without q report from some
one in some part Of England who believes
that he has seen one OF these immense
creatures. Naturally the thought of so
huge a bird living In crowded country
like England appeals to all that Is ro-
mantle In man. Several imported bustards
have recently been turned out on an es-
tate in Norfolk (the county from which
they disappeared). with the intention OF
making the breed again common as
game bird In England but they have not
thriven well. England seems to be popu-
lated too thiclsly for the liking of the bus
tard which Is fond of the solitude OF deep
~ wooded and little frequented regions.
A harpy eagle could carry on small
baby II II felt 30 disposed and the golden
eagle can carry OF small fnwn or Kid
or a Wild turkey, and does 1t when oppor-
tunity offers. Tho latter sometimes weighs
twelve pounds and has an expanse OF
wing OF seven feet and half II is capa-
Bile OF enduring extreme cold and liz Inn
mensely strong for It's size. Tho prey
which 1t kills and carries on frequently
exceeds its weight. With Its remarkable
kecnness of vision It espies its prey from
a great height and falls upon II with tre-
mendous velocity and unerring precision.
The bird In common In this country, but
seldom seen In the Eastern states. II
lives 10 extreme age. II II meets with no
mishap, and there is an authentic record
OF one living for over a century In cap
tivity. The American eagle-that is, tho
so-called bald-headed eagle, which is not
baid-headed at Allie a fish-eating bird
generally. though II will not disdain flesh
when II can get II. and often attacks small
quadrupeds and smaller birds According
20 Audubon the bald eagle can ascend un-
81 II disappears from view without any
apparent motion OF it's wings or tail. II
grows to be about twelve pounds In
weight.
An eagle which. though smaller than
any Of those mentioned. IL dreaded most