FALCON I D.E. 



41 



deep. His eye kiiidles at tlie sight, and balancing him- 

 self with half-opened wings on the branch, he watches 

 the result. Down, ra]jid as an arrow from heaven, 

 descends the distant object of his attention, the roar of 

 his wings reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep, 

 making the surges foam around ! At this moment the 

 eager looks of the Eagle are all ardour, and levelling his 

 neck for fliojht, he sees the Fish-Hawk emeroe, struggliuix 

 with his prey, and mounting in the air with wild screams 

 of exultation. These are the signals for our hero, who, 



Fig. 17.— the ospkey. 



{Pandion.) 



launching forth, instantly gives chase, and soon gains on 

 the Fish-Hawk, while each exerts his utmost to mount 

 above the other, displaying in these rencontres the most 

 elegant and sublime aerial evolutions. The unencum- 

 bered Eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the jwint of 

 reaching his opponent, when, with a sudden scream of 

 despair and honest execration, the latter drops his fish. 

 The Eagle, poising himself for a moment, as if to take a 



