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dead limb of some gigantic tree, that commands a wide view of the neighbouring shore and ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the various feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocations below; the snow-white gulls slowly winnowing the air; the busy tringæ coursing along the sands; trains of ducks streaming over the surface; silent and watchful cranes, intent and wading; clamorous crows, and all the winged multitudes that subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of nature.

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High over all these hovers one, whose action instantly arrests his attention. By his wide curvature of wing, and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be the fishhawk settling over some devoted victim of the deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and balancing himself, with half opened wings, on the branch, he watches the result. Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant object of his attention, the roar of its wings reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep, making the surges foam around.

"At this moment the looks of the Eagle are all ardour; and, levelling his neck for flight, he sees the fish-hawk emerge, struggling with his prey, and mounting into the air with screams of exultation. These are the signals for our hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chase, soon gains on the fish-hawk; each exerts his utmost to mount above the other, displaying in these rencontres the most elegant and sublime aerial evolutions. The unincumbered Eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reaching 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 ill gotten booty silently away to the woods."

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THESE birds are among the fiercest and most powerful of Eagles. They form their nests in the clefts of rocks inaccessible to man, and usually produce three or four young ones at a time. They inhabit the Alps, and subsist on animals, such as chamois, white hares, marmots, kids, and particularly lambs. It is from their devouring the latter that they are called, by the Swiss peasants, Lammer-geyer, or lamb-vultures. The Bearded Eagles seldom appear except in small parties, usually consisting of the two old birds and their young ones.

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THE length of this bird is two feet, its breadth, from tip to tip, about five. The outer toe, or talon, is larger than the inner one, and turns easily backward, by means of which it is enabled to secure its slippery prey. Its haunts are on the sea-shore, and along the borders of lakes. Fish are its principal food, and it descends upon them with great swiftness and undeviating aim. It is a very common bird in Europe and America.

THE FALCON.

THIS very elegant bird, which is larger than the goshawk, is a native of the cold climates of the north, and is found in Russia, Norway, and Iceland; but it is never seen in warm, and seldom in temperate climates; it is found, though rarely, in Scotland and the Orkneys. Next to the eagle, it is the most formidable, active, and intrepid of all voracious birds, and is most esteemed for falconry. It

boldly attacks the largest of the feathered race; the stork, the heron, and the crane, are easy victims: it kills hares by darting directly upon them. The female, as in all other

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birds of prey, is much larger and stronger than the male, and is used in falconry to catch the kite, the heron, and the crow.

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THIS bird is somewhat longer than the buzzard, but more slender and beautiful, and is one foot ten inches in length. It feeds on mice and small birds, and eagerly devours raw flesh; it plucks the birds very neatly, and tears them into

pieces before it eats them, but swallows the pieces entire ; and frequently disgorges the hair rolled up in small pellets. The Goshawk is found in France and Germany; it is not very numerous in England, but is more frequent in Scotland; where it breeds in lofty trees, and destroys large quantities of game. It is also common in North America, Russia, and Siberia.

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THIS bird is somewhat larger than a common pigeon. It is very numerous in various parts of the world. The female builds in high rocks, lofty ruins, or hollow trees, but will sometimes condescend to take up with the old nest of a crow. It is more easily trained and made docile than most of the rapacious tribes, and when domesticated it is susceptible of great attachment to its owner. In its wild state, it commits enormous havoc among the smaller race of birds.

THE MERLIN.

THE Merlin is in size little larger than the blackbird, and is consequently the smallest of the hawk kind. The quillfeathers are dark, the breast and belly are of a yellowish white. Small as it is, this bird is not inferior in courage to any of the falcon tribe. It was formerly used for taking

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