He expounded on the character flaws of the eagle, saying the bird “does not get his living honestly…too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labour of the fishing hawk; and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish…the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him. Besides he is a rank coward…the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird. He is besides, tho’ a little vain and silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.”
|