::::::::3x CAMPING IX A BARRANCA xfe:::::::: 



and with clutching talons the two birds fell rapidly to 

 earth, their frantic wing-beats thrashing vainly one 

 against the other, impotent to support their ill-balanced 

 bodies. Down fell the fluttering mass of ruffled feath- 

 ers square into a thorn-bush, where they lay panting 

 and fiercely glaring at one another. To complete the 

 tableau, a tliu-d species, a Black Hawk, swooped to- 

 ward the bush and hovered for a while above the 

 helpless birds. 



The incident was fraught with significance when 

 we consider that under ordinary circumstances the Red- 

 tail Avould never have dared to approach, much less 

 attack, the smaller but fiercer Goshawk, At other camps 

 we found the Goshawk a very tame and fearless bird, 

 and in hunting- and oeneral hawk-character the Red- 

 tail ranks far below him. Yet in this instance the stun- 

 ning effects of the shot, or the confining bandage, 

 instantly revealed to the Red-tail's eye that something 

 was wrong. Takino- immediate advantage of this slight 

 showing of weakness, the less noble hawk made an 

 attempt to rob. Thus is the high average of strength 

 and health maintained amono- wild birds. Each is 

 ever ready to oust another from a stronger showing of 

 power ; each holds his position against competitors 

 only by the exercise of his full faculties, and woe to the 

 weakling or to the victim of even a slight accident ! 



The note of the Black Hawk is a long-drawn, dom- 

 inating; scream, comino- to the ear down throuo-h the 



" «4 139 ^ - 



