ver, the parents push them from the perch
and trust them to the high atmospheric currents. They turn them out, so
to speak, to shift for themselves.

The Bald Eagle has an accommodating appetite, eating almost anything
that has ever had life. He is fond of fish, without being a great
fisher, preferring to rob the Fish-hawk of the fruits of his skillful
labor. Sitting upon the side of a mountain his keen vision surveys
the plain or valley, and detects a sheep, a young goat, a fat turkey
or rooster, a pig, a rabbit or a large bird, and almost within an
eye-twinkle he descends upon his victim. A mighty grasp, a twist of his
talons, and the quarry is dead long before the Eagle lays it down for a
repast. The impetuosity and skill with which he pursues, overtakes and
robs the Fish-hawk, and the swiftness with which the Bald Eagle darts
down upon and seizes the booty, which the Hawk has been compelled to let
go, is not the least wonderful part of this striking performance.

The longevity of the Eagle is very great, from 80 to 160 years.

THE SEMI-PALMATED RING PLOVER.

In their habits the Plovers are usually active; they run and fly with
equal facility, and though they rarely attempt to swim, are not
altogether unsuccessful in that particular.

The Semi-palmated Ring Plover utters a plaintive whistle, and during the
nesting season can produce a few connected pleasing notes. The three or
four pear-shaped, variagated eggs are deposited in a slight hollow in
the ground, in which a few blades of grass are occasionally placed. Both
parents assist in rearing the young. Worms, small quadrupeds, and
insects constitute their food. Their flesh is regarded as a delicacy,
and they are therefore objects of great attraction to the sportsman,
although they often render themselves extremely troublesome by uttering
their shrill cry and thus warning their feathered companions of the
approach of danger. From this habit they have received the name of
"tell-tales." Dr. Livingstone said of the African species: "A most
plaguey sort of public spirited individual follows you everywhere,
flying overhead, and is most persevering in his attempts to give fair
warning to all animals within hearing to flee from the approach of
danger."

The American Ring Plover nests as far north as Labrador, and is common
on our shores from August to October, after which it migrates southward.
Some are stationary in the southern states. It is often called the