[Illustration: “The bold little fellow defended himself with the sickle in his hand.” Page 14. ] TALES ABOUT BIRDS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THEIR Nature, Habits, and Instincts. BY THOMAS BINGLEY, AUTHOR OF “STORIES ABOUT DOGS,”—“TALKS OF SHIPWRECKS,” “STORIES ABOUT HORSES,” ETC., ETC. EMBELLISHED WITH ENGRAVINGS. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: CHARLES TILT, FLEET STREET. MDCCCXL. CLARKE, PRINTERS, SILVER STREET, FALCON SQUARE, LONDON. PREFACE. Birds are such universal favourites, and the Stories connected with their Habits and Instincts so varied and interesting, as to make me feel confident that the Volume now offered to my young readers will meet with a ready acceptance and approbation. The Engravings, which have been executed by Mr. Landells, from Drawings by Mr. W. B. Scott, will, I hope, be found faithfully and spiritedly to embody the incidents of the Stories which they severally illustrate. T. B. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT THE GOLDEN EAGLE, AND NARRATES VARIOUS STORIES ILLUSTRATIVE OF ITS FEROCITY AND POWER Page 1 CHAPTER II. UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT THE OSPREY, OR SEA-EAGLE, AND ABOUT THE WHITE-HEADED OR BALD EAGLE OF AMERICA 25 CHAPTER III. UNCLE THOMAS TELLS SEVERAL INTERESTING TALES ABOUT THE FEROCITY AND TENACITY OF LIFE IN THE VULTURE, AND ABOUT THE GREEDINESS WITH WHICH IT DEVOURS ITS PREY 50 CHAPTER IV. UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT THE VARIOUS KINDS OF FALCONS, AND DESCRIBES THE SPORT OF HAWKING, AS ANCIENTLY PRACTISED IN ENGLAND 69 CHAPTER V. UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE, WHICH ENABLES THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT 98 CHAPTER VI. UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT THE HERON, AND ITS PLACE OF RETREAT; AS WELL AS ABOUT THE AFFECTION AND GENTLENESS OF THE STORK AND THE CRANE 122 CHAPTER VII.