Gwaihir in the Hobbit?

[Gwaihir the Windlord]

Doubtful. The only races that Iluvatar created are his Children. (Aredhel)

Do not forget the Ainur. The Children are the only beings Eru created in Arda, but not the only ones he created at all.
Thanks for raising the Ent-like possibility, by the way.
Admittedly, the prospect of Eagles being created by Illivitar is somewhat unhopeful. Since their origins are so dark, however, it's a suggestion.

Also, the ents were "awakened" by the first elves...(Iarwain)

Ents -- the 'Shepherds of the Trees' -- were created in Middle-Earth by Yavanna, not by the Elves. It was the Elves who 'enlightened' them though, I believe. However -- the Eagles, were they an Ent-like being, would presumably have been 'enlightened' (with language etcetera) by the Valar themselves.

It was certainly the Lord of the Eagles who picked up Gandalf, but that it was either Gwaihir's sire or Gandalf was speaking loosely or only of very recent events with his 'twice you have borne me'.

After all the previous bearing of gandalf was what 70 or 80 years previous? (lindil)

The latter proposal is likely. Gwaihir had carried Gandalf twice in quick succession over the last year, and in the same project -- i.e. the War of the Ring; the first time eighty years ago, and in a different event, would easily have been overlooked.

Gandalf knew Gwaihir well. He knew the Hobbit Lord of the Eagles just as well. If Gwaihir was in fact the Hobbit Lord's son, Gandalf may well still know him, but it is doubtful whether he would have had the same friendly relationship with him as with his father.

Personally I find the idea of Huan as simple Narnia like talking dog to fail to do Huan justice. But that's just me...

Not just you. =/ There are talking 'animals' in Arda, but they are not simply the Narnian variety. Huan is most definitely a Maia, but one who has taken on the form of, and thus the shackles of being, a dog. He was probably a dog-like Ainu in mind to begin with. After all, he came from Valinor.

If I may, I might just use this neat oppurtunity to say that Ungoliant, who has frequently been discussed as a Bombadil-like anomaly, was also a Maia. Rarely for decision on Tolkien issues, I am totally assured of this.

Hmmm, a lot of quotes in this isn't there? Anyway. I think we can conclude, at least, that the Eagles are not Dragon-like beings, which are seemingly created and then filled with a spirit of some descript (rather dimly known about I'm afraid) but an actual, individual race of creatures with a definite divine tinge to them.

[ July 18, 2003: Message edited by: Gwaihir the Windlord ]