Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/42

 ages. One which was fired at, and wounded so as to be captured, struck its talons into the shooter's arm, giving him excessive pain, and did not loosen its hold until the leg was severed from its body. A pair only frequent Fairhead, except in autumn, when the young are still there. In the Island of Bathlin, the sea eagle is said to have an eyrie. This species, as well as the golden eagle, has been taken in Glenarm Park; and, on the 6th of September, 1837, two were seen in company on Galbally mountain, near the Garron Point. An adult bird was shot in the winter of 1842–43? at Larne Lough, under the following circumstances : — A wild- fowl shooter was lying in ambush on the shore, in the hope that the flowing tide would bring some wigeon within range, when the eagle appeared overhead, intent, as he imagined, on his "game." The royal bird floating in the air looked down upon the swimming wild-fowl, expanded the claws of one of its feet, then clasped them together, — an act, perhaps, even more sugges- tive to the shooter of the bird's intent, than was the air-drawn dagger to Macbeth ; and, before it could again clutch the air, the "charge" intended for the wigeon brought it to the ground. One pities the majestic bird falling a sacrifice under such circum- stances, and wishes that the slayer had been imbued with the feeling of "William Tell, as exemplified in the following passage : —

"Scaling yonder peak, I saw an eagle wheeling near its brow, O'er the abyss : his broad expanded wings Lay calm and motionless upon the air, As if he floated there without their aid, By the sole act of his unlorded will, That buoyed him proudly up. Instinctively I bent my how ; yet kept he rounding still His airy circle, as in the delight Of measuring the ample range beneath ; And round about absorb'd, he heeded not The death that threaten'd him. I coidd not shoot ! 'Twas liberty ! — I turned my bow aside, And let him soar away !" William Tell. Act 1, Scene 2.