SECTION VII.

Speculation and practice.

A CERTAIN astronomer was contemplating the moon through his telescope, and tracing the extent of her seas, the height of her mountains, and the number of habitable territories which she contains. "Let him spy what he pleases,” said a clown to his companion; "he is not nearer to the moon than we are."

Shall the same observation be made of you, Alexis? Do you surpass others in learning, and yet in goodness remain upon a level with the uninstructed vulgar? Have you so long gazed at the temple of virtue, without advancing one step towards it? Are you smitten with moral beauty, yet regardless of its attainment? Are you a philosopher in theory, but a novice in practice? The partiality of a father inclines me to hope, that the reverse is true. I flatter myself, that by having learned to think, you will be qualified to act; and that the rectitude of your conduct will be adequate to your im provements in knowledge. May that wisdom which is justified in her works, be your guide through life! And may you enjoy all the felicity which flows from a cultivated understanding, pious and wellregulated affections, and extensive benevolence! In these consists that sovereign good, which ancient sages so much extol; which reason recommends, religion authorizes, and God approves. PERCIVAL.

CHAPTER IV.

DESCRIPTIVE PIECES.

SECTION I.

The Eagle.

THE Golden Eagle is the largest and the noblest of all those birds that have received the name of eagle. It weighs above twelve pounds. Its length is three feet; the extent of its wings, seven feet four inches; the bill is three inches long, and of a deep blue; and the eye of a hazel colour. In general, these birds are found in mountains and thinly inhabited countries; and breed among the loftiest cliffs. They choose those places which are remotest from man, upon whose possessions they but seldom make their depredations, being contented rather to follow the wild game in the forest, than to risk their safety to satisfy their hunger.

This fierce animal may be considered among birds, as a lion among quadrupeds; and, in many respects, they have a strong similitude to each other. They are both possessed of force, and an empire over their fellows of the forest. Equally magnanimous, they disdain small plunder; and only pursue animals worthy the conquest. It is not till after having been long provoked by the cries of the rook or the magpie, that this generous

bird thinks fit to punish them with death. The eagle also disdains to share the plunder of another bird; and will take up with no other prey than that which he has acquired by his own pursuits. How hungry soever he may be, he stoops not to carrion; and when satiated, never returns to the same carcass, but leaves it for other animals, more rapacious and less delicate than himself. Solitary like the lion, he keeps the desert to himself alone; it is as extraordinary to see two pairs of eagles in the same mountain, as two lions in the same forest. They keep separate, to find a more ample supply; and consider the quantity of their game as the best proof of their dominion. Nor does the similitude of these animals stop here: they have both sparkling eyes, and nearly of the same colour; their claws are of the same form, their breath equally strong, and their cry equally loud and terrifying. Bred both for war, they are enemies of all society; alike fierce, proud, and incapable of being easily tamed.

Of all the feathered tribe, the eagle flies the highest; and from thence the ancients have given him the title of the bird of heaven. He possesses also the sharpest sight; but his sense of smelling, though acute, is inferior to that of the vulture. He never pursues, but when his object is in view; and having seized his prey, he stoops from his height, as if to examine its weight, always laying it on the

ground before he carries it off. He finds no difficulty in taking up geese and cranes. He also carries away hares, lambs, and kids; and often destroys fawns and calves, to drink their blood; and bears a part of their flesh to his retreat. Infants themselves, when left unattended, have been destroyed by these rapacious creatures. An instance is recorded in Scotland, of two children having been carried off by eagles; but fortunately they received no hurt by the way; and, the eagles being pursued, the children were found unhurt in the nests, and restored to their affrighted parents.

The eagle is thus at all times a formidable neighbour; but peculiarly so when bringing up its young. It is then that the male and female exert all their force and industry to supply their offspring. Smith, in his history of Kerry, relates, that a poor man in that country, got a comfortable subsistence for his family, during a summer of famine, out of an eagle's nest, by robbing the eaglets of food, which was plentifully supplied by the old ones. He protracted their assiduity beyond the usual time, by clipping the wings, and retarding the flight of the young; and very probably also, as I have known myself, by so tying them, as to increase their cries, which are always found to increase the parent's despatch to procure them provision. It was fortunate, however, that

the old eagles did not surprise the countryman thus employed, as their resentment might have been dangerous.

It requires great patience and much art to tame an eagle; and even though taken young, and subdued by long assiduity, yet it is a dangerous domestic, and often turns its force against its master. When brought into the field for the purposes of fowling, the falconer is never sure of its attachment; its innate pride, and love of liberty, still prompt it to regain its native solitudes. Sometimes, however, eagles are brought to have an attachment to their feeder; they are then highly serviceable, and liberally provide for his pleasure and support. When the falconer lets them go from his hand, they play about and hover round him, till their game presents, which they see at an immense distance, and pursue with certain destruction.

It is said that the eagle can live many weeks without food; and that the period of its life exceeds a hundred years.

SECTION II.

The humming-bird.

GOLDSMITH.

Or all the birds that flutter in the garden, or paint the landscape, the humming-bird is the most delightful to look upon, and the most inoffensive. Of this charming little animal, there are six or seven varieties, from the size of a small wren,