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The native animals of the American continent, in cases where they closely resemble the kindred species of the eastern continent, are often in some respects different. From this fact, a good deal of confusion has arisen among authors, and I have found it occasionally difficult to satisfy myself of the exact truth. I hope, however, I have made no material mistakes.

There is a plate at the beginning of this book which represents several animals in outline, and exhibits pretty nearly their comparative size. There is a scale of feet in the margin, which will show also, with tolerable accuracy, the dimensions of the larger beasts.

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THE Eagle seems to enjoy a kind of supremacy over the rest of the inhabitants of the air. Such is the loftiness of his flight that he often soars in the sky, beyond the reach of the naked eye, and such is his strength that he has been known to bear away children in his talons. But many of the noble qualities imputed to him by Buffon and other writers, are more fanciful than true. He has been represented as possessing a lofty independence which makes him disdain to feed on any thing that is not slain by his own strength; but Wilson says, that he has seen an Eagle, while feasting on the carcass of a dead horse, keep the

longing vultures at bay; and it is well known that the Bald Eagle principally subsists by robbing the fish-hawk of its prey.

The Eagle is remarkable for longevity. It is stated that one of these birds died at Vienna, after a confinement of one hundred and four years.

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THE Golden Eagle, which is one of the largest species, is nearly four feet from the point of the beak to the end of the tail. His neck is of a rusty colour, the rest of the body is nearly black, with lighter spots. Elevated rocks, and ruined solitary castles and towers, are the places which this bird chooses for his abode. His nest is flat, composed of sticks, rushes, &c. The Ring-tailed Eagle is now discovered to be the young of the Golden Eagle. This eaglet is very powerful, and one of them will master a dog supe

rior to it in size. It inhabits most parts of Europe and America; in the latter country its feathers are particularly valued by the native Indians, as ornaments for dress. It is the common Eagle of Europe.

THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE.

THIS bird, of which there are two or three varieties, is inferior in size to the golden eagle. Its general colour is brown, its quill-feathers are very dark. It is a native of Europe, and bears a general resemblance in character and habits to the preceding varieties.

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ARE now generally considered distinct species, though Mr. Wilson regards them as the same. They are alike in size, habits, and general appearance; the only apparent difference is in the colour of the neck and head, those

of the Bald Eagle being white, those of the other gray and somewhat variegated. The difference is probably accidental, or perhaps the Gray Eagle is the Bald Eagle in his youth.

The following beautiful description of the Bald Eagle is taken from the author just mentioned, to whom we are indebted for a splendid work on American birds, abounding in the most minute, lively, and eloquent descriptions.

along the shores and Formed by nature for equally upon the pro

"This distinguished bird, as he is the most beautiful of his tribe in this part of the world, and the adopted emblem of our country, is entitled to particular notice. He has been long known to naturalists, being common to both continents, and occasionally met with from a very high northern latitude, to the borders of the torrid zone, but chiefly in the vicinity of the sea, and cliffs of our lakes and large rivers. braving the severest cold; feeding duce of the sea and of the land; possessing powers of flight capable of outstripping even the tempests themselves; unawed by any thing but man; and from the ethereal heights to which he soars, looking abroad, at one glance, on an immeasurable expanse of forests, fields, lakes, and ocean, deep below him; he appears indifferent to the little localities of change of season; as in a few minutes he can pass from summer to winter, from the lower to the higher regions of the atmosphere, the abode of eternal cold; and thence descend at will to the torrid or the arctic regions of the earth. He is therefore found at all seasons in the countries which he inhabits; but prefers such places as have been mentioned above, from the great partiality he has for fish.

"In procuring these he displays, in a very singular manner, the genius and energy of his character, which is fierce, contemplative, daring, and tyrannical; attributes not exerted but on particular occasions; but when put forth, overwhelming all opposition. Elevated upon a high

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