Although the Birdofreedom makes a magnificent appearance at all seasons,
it is in its fullest feather about the Fourth of July. Its truculent
disposition is then manifested by a threatening attitude toward the
Anglo-Saxon Lion, (_Leo Britannicus,_) which it has twice worsted in
single combat, and to whose well-knit frame it is prepared at any moment
to administer a third sockdologer.

There are many varieties of the Eagle--as the Russian and Prussian,
(which, singularly enough, have two heads,) the bald Eagle, the Osprey
or Sea Eagle, the Golden Eagle, &c. The Golden species was formerly
quite common in the United States, but has now almost entirely
disappeared. Of the smaller species of the genus Falco, it is only
necessary to say that, like the Eagle, they are inedible. In other
words, though excellent for hawking, they are too tough for spitting.

* * * * *

CURRENT FABLES.


THE CENTAUR.


At one time the animals living on either side of a river which ran
through the middle of a vast tract of land, supplied in profusion with
everything necessary to make their lives comfortable and happy, got into
a terrible conflict with each other, which was waged with great
bitterness for a long time, and caused the loss of a great many lives.
At last an enormous Centaur appeared, and, putting himself at the head