gland, called hawking or falconry. Another bird of this tribe, somewhat smaller than the Gyrfalcon, was commonly used for this purpose. It is the Peregrine Falcon, found in most parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The boldness of this bird is such that it was employed even in taking so formidable a bird as the Heron. The Falcon was held hooded on its master's hand until the Heron was aroused from its retreat; then, on being set free, it pursued the Heron aloft, each bird striving to ascend above the other. The Falcon was always victorious; and at length, with a sweep, it pounced on its victim, and both then came to the ground together. The part of the sportsman was to reach the place of conflict as soon as possible, and aid the Falcon in vanquishing its prey. So fashionable was this sport at one time in England, that persons of rank, when they appeared in public, generally had a hawking-bird on the hand.

218. The true Falcons were formerly designated as noble birds of prey, on account of their use in falconry, and the rest of the family were termed ignoble birds of prey. The Eagles are the largest birds of the latter class. There are several species, all of which have the feathers extend down on the legs even to the talons. That magnificent bird, the Golden Eagle, is among the most widely diffused of all species of Birds, being found on the Continent of Europe, in the north of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in Asia, and in North America, from the temperate to the arctic regions. It has ever been regarded as an emblem of might and courage, holding, as "king of birds," the same rank among them as the Lion does among beasts. With its powerful wings this immense bird soars to a great height, and is a grand object amid the rudeness and sublimity of the localities which it frequents. Its acute vision enables it to see its prey at a great distance, and it darts down upon it with a swoop or rush like that of the Falcons, but more terrific and overpowering from its greater size.

219. The nest of the Eagle is made of sticks, twigs, etc., and is generally on the ledge of some precipice, as seen in Fig. 106. In "The Land and the Book" of

Thomson, he describes very graphically the return of the Eagle to its nest. After making several gyrations, it poises for a moment, and then, "like a bolt, with wings collapsed, down it comes head foremost, and, sinking far below its eyrie, it rounds to in a grand parabola, and then, with one or two backward flaps of its huge pinions, like the wheels of a steam-boat reversed, it lands in safety among its clamorous children." The food of this bird consists of sea-birds, the smaller quadrupeds, as hares, rabbits, etc., and sometimes lambs, sheep, and even larger

animals. In one eyrie in Germany were found the skeletons of three hundred ducks and forty hares; but the owner of the nest had undoubtedly killed, besides these, many sheep, fawns, etc., which it had stripped of their flesh, they being too large to be carried away entire to such a height.

220. The Osprey, or Fishing Hawk, Fig. 107, an aber

rant species of Eagle, is spread over the whole of Europe, a part of Asia, and also portions of North America. As its name indicates, it lives on fish, which it obtains by dashing down into the water. Its nest is composed of sticks, seaweed, grass, and turf, laid among the branches of a tree. As it is repaired and added to every year, there is sometimes enough to make a cart-load. This bird, besides living on fish, differs from the true Eagles also in having the legs covered with scales instead of feathers.

221. The White-headed or Bald Eagle inhabits most parts of North America. It is the figure of this Eagle which is on the national standard of this country. The food of this bird is various. While it preys on such animals as lambs, pigs, etc., it will eat fish whenever it can take it from the Fishing Hawk. If it sees this bird rise from the water with a fish in its talons, it starts off at once in the pursuit. Wilson thus describes the struggle that ensues: "Each exerts his utmost to mount above the other, displaying, in these rencounters, the most elegant and sublime aerial evolutions. The unencumbered Eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reach

ing his opponent, when with a sudden scream, probably of despair and honest execration, the latter drops his fish. The Eagle, poising himself for a moment, as if to take a more certain aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp ere it reaches the water, and bears his illgotten booty silently away to the woods." Dr. Franklin thus speaks of this Eagle: "For my part, I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character; he does not get his living honestly. . You may have seen him perched upon some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches for the labors of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent bird has taken a fish, and is bearing it to its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him, and takes it from him. With all this injustice, he is never in good case, but, like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and very often lousy. Besides, he is a rank coward; the little king-bird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America, who have driven out all the king-birds from our country, though exactly fitted for that order of knights which the French call chevaliers d'industrie."

222. The Secretary Bird, Fig. 108 (p. 131), derives its name from the tufts of feathers at the back of its head, having some resemblance to pens stuck behind the ear. It is allied both to the Eagles and the Falcons, but its exact place is a subject of dispute. It inhabits South Africa, Senegambia, and the Philippine Islands. It lives on snakes and reptiles, which it devours in great numbers. When attacking a snake, it uses one wing as a shield, striking the snake with the other till it is senseless; then, with a blow with its beak, it splits the snake's head, and swallows the animal. In the crop of one of those birds there were found eleven large lizards, three

serpents, each a yard in length, eleven small tortoises, and a great quantity of locusts and other insects.

223. The Hawks constitute a section of the Falcon family, allied to the true Falcons, but having short legs and tails. The Goshawk, Fig. 109 (p. 132), is the finest bird of this tribe, distinguished alike for its large size, its beautiful plumage, and its elegant shape. It comes nearer to the Falcons than any other of the Hawks. When it takes its prey it strikes its victim to the ground by the force with which it dashes through the air. Its food consists of hares, squirrels, pheasants, and even some quite large birds. This bird abounds all over the wooded portions of Europe, and a similar species is found in this country.

224. The Kites, another section of the Falcon family, are particularly distinguished by their long wings and forked tails. Their flight is remarkably easy and graceful, and they have the power of remaining a long time