The HARPY EAGLE (_Harpyia destructor_) is the most formidable of all the
Eagles found in South America. The body of this bird is powerful, its
head large, its tail robust and of considerable length; the wings, on the
contrary, are short and blunt; the beak is unusually high and strong,
very decidedly rounded at its summit, and sharp at the edges, which bulge
outwards below the nostrils, and form a tooth-like appendage; the feet
are stronger than those of any other Bird of Prey, the toes are long,
and armed with very long, thick, hooked talons; the tarsi are partially
covered in front with feathers, the bare places being protected by large
horny plates. The plumage, which is soft and rich, is prolonged into a
large, broad crest at the back of the neck; the head and nape are grey,
the crest, and entire back, wings, tail, upper part of the breast and
sides of the rump, dark slate colour; the tail is ornamented with three
white stripes; the lower portion of the breast and rump are white, the
belly and legs are also white, the former spotted and the latter streaked
with black. The beak and claws are black, the legs yellow, and the eyes
reddish yellow. In the young bird all these markings are indistinct; the
feathers on the back are striped with grey, and those upon the breast and
belly spotted with black. Tschudi gives the length of this species as
being three feet two inches, that of the tail being one foot one inch,
whilst according to Burmeister its size exceeds this measurement. The
middle toe is three inches, the hinder toe one inch and a half long, and
both are furnished with claws an inch and a half in length.
All the large forests of South America, from Mexico to the interior of
Brazil, are inhabited by this large and formidable Eagle, which, although
it occasionally visits the warm valleys interspersed among the mountain
ranges, never leaves them to take shelter on the rocky heights by which
they are surrounded. Such old writers as have treated of the Natural
History of the American continent never fail to mention so destructive
a bird, and about its life and habits many strange fables have been
invented. Fernandez describes the Harpy as being as large as a sheep, and
constantly attacking men; but tells us that notwithstanding its great
fierceness it can be tamed and employed in the chase. Mauduyt repeats
the above statements, and adds thereto that a Harpy with one blow of
its beak, is able to split open a man's skull; stating, moreover, that
these birds are much addicted to this exercise of their powers. Modern
naturalists have refuted these notions, and we will give, in a small
compass, the facts which such men as D'Orbigny and Tschudi have been able
to ascertain by their own observations. According to these authorities,
the Harpy dwells in the moist, well-watered forests of South America,
within the boundaries already indicated, rarely, however, appearing in
the depths of these leafy wildernesses, but frequenting the banks of
rivers, where an abundance of animal life is always to be met with. In
no part of the continent are these birds to be found in great numbers,
doubtless owing to the fact that from time immemorial they have been
hunted by the natives for the sake of their feathers. Like the Hawk,
they are seldom seen on the summits of trees, but sit upon the branches,
whence they rise with short, irregular strokes, and fly with arrow-like
rapidity when in pursuit of prey, swooping upon it with great force,
after describing a few preparatory evolutions.
According to D'Orbigny, these Eagles are of solitary habits, except
during the breeding season. From Tschudi we learn that the Harpy is much
dreaded by the Indians, owing to its devastating attacks upon their
property; indeed, in some woodland districts the inhabitants find it
impossible to keep poultry or small dogs, for so bold and audacious are
these feathered poachers that they have been known to seize a fine fat
hen whilst its owner was standing not a yard from the spot. All such
quadrupeds as are not large, or powerfully armed, fall victims to the
voracity; and Schomburghk was told by the natives that instances are on
record of children having been carried off and devoured. From the same
source we learn that the Sloth is sometimes literally torn piece by
piece from the branches when it cannot be induced to relax its hold by
other means. We need scarcely say that we do not vouch for this latter
statement. By the monkey tribes that swarm and gambol in the South
American forests, the Harpy is regarded with such dread that, should a
frolicsome party be made aware of the approach of their powerful enemy,
the terrified creatures at once beat a hasty retreat to the thickest
parts of the surrounding foliage, uttering the most pitiful cries as
they endeavour to escape from the impending danger, against which all
attempts at defence would be useless. The eyrie of the Harpy is built
upon lofty trees, and the Indians assert that the same nest is employed
for many successive years: the eggs, as far as we can ascertain, have
not as yet been found. These remarkable birds are so highly esteemed by
the native tribes, that the happy possessor of a live Harpy is regarded
with envy and increased respect by his less fortunate neighbours. Upon
the women devolves the task of feeding and tending these valuable members
of the family party, whose feathers, plucked from the wings and tail
twice in the year, afford the owners not only the means of barter for any
article they may desire, but are employed as much-coveted decorations
for the head-dress and accoutrements of a warrior. In Peru, the hunter
who succeeds in capturing a Harpy is allowed the privilege of taking his
prize from door to door, to receive such articles as eggs, maize, or
poultry, in acknowledgment of his prowess.
Pourlamaque informs us that in the countries watered by the Amazon, the
flesh and fat of the Harpy are considered valuable for healing purposes,
both by the native and European inhabitants. Many of these birds have
been brought alive to Europe, but they never become tame; when confined,
they exhibit the most insatiable voracity, devouring every kind of animal
food, but preferring to receive their prey whilst it is still alive. They
appear to feel no affection towards those that feed them, and are so
extremely ferocious that it is impossible to introduce even one of their
own kind into the cage that they occupy.
* * * * *
The SEA EAGLES (_Haliaëtos_) constitute a well-defined group of very
large birds, armed with long and powerful beaks, which terminate in
an abrupt hook, and rise but slightly above the cere; the tarsi are
only partially covered with feathers; the talons are long, sharp, and
hooked, and the toes distinctly separate; the wings are large, the third
quill longer than the rest, reaching almost to the tip of the broad and
more or less rounded tail. The plumage is rich, and usually of a grey
colour; the feathers upon the head and nape are only slightly elongated,
but terminate in a sharp point; the tail is _usually_, and the head
_occasionally_, white.