“There have been frequent instances of the Eagle being tamed,” said Uncle Thomas, “and sometimes even when taken after having arrived at maturity. One of this sort, which was taken in Ireland, had its wings cut, and was put into a large garden, where it soon became domesticated. Its wings gradually grew again, and the Eagle sometimes flew away for a fortnight at a time, but always returned. The children of the family frequently met it in their walks about the garden, but it never offered them any molestation. It once, however, attacked its master; it is supposed in consequence of his neglecting to bring its accustomed supply of food. After living ten or twelve years in this manner it one day quarrelled with a large mastiff. The fight must have been long and obstinate, but no one witnessed it. The Eagle was killed, and so severely was the Dog wounded that it died almost immediately afterwards. “In Norway,” continued Uncle Thomas, “the people represent the Eagle as very sagacious, and as using the most curious devices to secure its prey. It is said, for instance, to attack and overcome Oxen in the following manner. It plunges into the sea, and after being completely drenched, rolls itself on the shore till its wings are quite covered with sand. It then rises into the air, and hovers over its unfortunate victim, and, when close to it, shakes its wings, and throws stones and sand into the eyes of the Ox; and, having thus blinded it, terrifies the animal by striking it with its powerful wings. The poor Ox runs about quite desperate, and at length falls down completely exhausted, or dashes itself to death by falling over some cliff. The Eagle then feasts undisturbed on his prey.” “It is a very sagacious stratagem indeed,” said Mary; “I really do not see how it could proceed more efficiently if it was endowed with reason. “But is it true?” asked Harry. “You are right Harry,” said Uncle Thomas; “that ought always to be the first consideration. So much fable has been mixed up with the accounts of the habits of animals that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the true from the false. In the present case, for instance, the fact rests on the statement of a traveller named Von Buch, who assures us that the circumstance was related to him, in nearly the same terms, at places distant from each other. But, on the other hand, it is so contrary to the general habits of the Eagle that it seems most unlikely to be true; besides, if the Eagle were to suffer its feathers to be drenched in the way described, it would be unable to fly, and would soon suffer for its hardihood by being drowned.” “Would it, indeed, Uncle Thomas?” asked Jane; “Swans and Geese go into the water, and are not drowned.”