Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 06.djvu/665

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EAGLE. EAMES. through various iiiodilicutioiis, the Order of the Red Eagle was raised in IT'.ll by Frederick Wil- liam 11. to the rank of second in the nionarohy. .Ml the Kniu'hts of the HIaek Kaj;le were received into this new Order, and it was afterwards de- creed that only tlu)se who had been decorated with the Red Eagle in the first instance could re- ceive the Blaek. In 1810 two more classes were added to the Order, and in 1830 the second class was subdivided into two. The badge wmsists of a white Maltese cross with red eagles between the arms, in the centre a golden plaque with the cipher F.W'.H. and the motto Sincere et coii- stanler. The rilihon is white, with two orange stripes. EAGLE, Jamks I'iiilii' i 1837 — ). An .meri- can legislator, born in Maurj- County, Tenn. He served with distinction in the Confederate Army from ISlil to 1S6,). and had risen to the rank of lieutenant-colonel at the close of the war. In 1870 he became a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which capacity he served gratuitously. He was president of the Arkansas State Convention for twenty years (1878-98), and also served as chairman of its executive board. Entering political life in 1872, he became a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of Arkansas (1875), and after serving for several terms in the State Legislature, was elected Speaker in 1885. He was Governor of Arkansas from 1889 to 1892. EAGLEHAWK. A municipal borough of Bendigo County, ^'ictoria, Australia. iV^ miles west of Bendigo and 100 miles northwest of Mel- bourne by rail (Map: Victoria. D 3). Valuable gold-mi7ies are worked in the vicinitv. Popula- tion, in 1891. 7300: in 1901, 8130. EAGLE OWL. The name most often given in Europe to the great-horned owl (Bubo ignavus) , representing a group of large, fierce owls of the Northern Hemis|)here generally, of which the American great horned or hooting owl is a fa- miliar example. They are characterized by a somewhat incomplete facial disk, two tufts of feathers (honi.t or cf/rets) of considerable size on the head, ears with small external openings, legs and toes covered with feathers, short, strong, curved bill, and long, curved, sharp claws. To this genus belong the largest of the nocturnal birds of prey. The eagle owl of Europe ap- proaches in size (2G to 28 inches) the golden eagle, and preys on quadrupeds such as hares, rabbits, and young deer, and on grouse, par- tridges, and other kinds of game. It seizes its prey with its feet, and seldoiri touches it with the bill till its struggles are over. It is an in- habitant of many parts of Europe and Asia, but it is rare in flreat Britain. The eagle owl of America (Bubo Virpininuux) , the Virginian or great horned owl. is verj' similar to the species just noticed, but of inferior size, although still a large and powerful, as it is also a bold. bird. It does not scruple to attack half-grown turkeys, and often succeeds in making them its prey. It carries ofT with ease almost any other inhabitant of the poultry yard. It is found in almost all parts of both North and South .-Xmeriea. and is not migratory. Eastern Asia has some allied species. The habits of all these birds are essentially similar, and differ from those of the smaller owls (see Owi.) only in the greater strength and boldness of their rapacity. They lay two or three white eggs, but an East Indian species (Bubo eoromaiidus) is remarkable in laying, sometimes, distinctly spotted iggs. In northern regions the eggs are laid in March, or even in February, and often incubated amid violent snowstorms. This owl is often seen in menageries, and occasion- ally has been tamed. Its note is a deep, loud, two-syllabled hoot, but is varied sometimes into a hoarse, neighing laugh, well calculated to frighten one who hears it in the midnight loneliness of the forest. Consult: Dresser, Birds of Europe (Lon- don, 1879). and other ornithologies (see Bird I for the Old World species: Fisher. Hanks and Owls of the I'liileil Kliiles (Washington, 1893) ; Sclater and Hudson. .r(jeittiiic Ornitliology (Lon- don, 1888) . See Plate of Owls. EAGLE PASS. The county-seat of Maverick County, Te.x., about 150 miles southwest of San Antonio; on the Kio Grande River, and on the Southern Pacific and the Mexican International railroads (Map: Texas, D 5). It is in a coal- mining and stock-raising region: ships cattle, hides, and wool, and has lumber and brick yards. A' custom house is located here, and the city enjoys a flourishing international trade, which was particularlv important during the Civil War. Population, about 3000. EAGLE RAY iso called from the wing-like shape of the pectoral fins). A large ray of the family ilyliobatidae, and especially Myliobalis Freminvillei, of the warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean. In this genus the disk is very broad and sharply angular in outline, while the cephalic fins form a soft, convex apjiendage before the snout: the tail is very long and slender, giving the name whip-ray to some species. The habits and food are similar to those of sting-rays. See Rat. EAGLE VULTURE. A vulturine sea-eagle (Gypoliienix Anfiolensis) , placed by some orni- thologists between the eagles and kites, and by others nearer the true vultures. It is a bird of prey of the West African coast region from Senegambia to Angola, and also of a limited dis- trict near Zanzibar. It resembles a vulture in appearance, especially in the shape of the head, beak, and the naked space about the eye : but in habits is essentially a fish-eating sea-eagle. (See Eagle.) It haunts the mangrove swamps- of the estuaries, but retires to the forests farther up the streams for breeding purposes. When fish are scarce it does not disdain carrion, and occa- sionally strikes down a kid r>r similar animal. It is two feet in length and lieautiful, being snowy white, with black wings and tail — extraor- dinary plumage for one of its kind. EAGLEWOOD. See Ai.oes Wood: Calam- BUCO. EALING, el'Ing. A town of Middlesex, Eng- land, about nine miles west of Saint Paul's, London (Map: T>ondon, E 5). Charles Dibdin, the popular song-writer: Henry Fielding, the novelist: and I.ady Byron, were long residents of Ealing, and it is the birthplace of Huxley. The town maintains public baths, a library, art school, a hospital, and an electric-lighting plant. The population has increased from less than 4000 in 1851. to 33.000 in 1901. EAMES. emz. Charles (1812-67). An American lawyer and journalist, born at New