Birds That Hunt 



By Henri Coupin 



The bird of prey called the Pygargus sea eagle waits till his victim comes 

 within range. Audubon has picturesquely sketched him. "Behold," says he, 

 "just at the bank of a great river the eagle, perched upright on the last branch 

 of the highest tree. His eye, glittering with a somber fire, sweeps over a vast 

 stretch. He listens, and his subtle ear is open to every distant sound. From time 

 to time he casts a glance downward to the earth for fear lest even the light 

 step of the fawn may escape him. His female is perched on the opposite bank, 

 and if all remains tranquil and silent she admonishes him, by a cry, still to be 

 patient. At the well-known signal the male partly opens his immense wings, 

 bends his body slightly downward, and answers her with another cry like a 

 burst of maniac laughter. Then he resumes his upright position arid again all is 

 silent. Ducks of all sorts, teals, scoters, and others pass before him in swift 

 flocks and descend the river, but the eagle does not deign to notice them; they 

 are not worthy of his attention. Suddenly like the hoarse note of a clarion the 

 voice of the swan resounds, still distant, but coming nearer. A piercing cry 

 comes across the river from the female, not less active, not less alert than her 

 mate. He shakes all his body violently, and by several shakes of his head, 

 aided by the action of the muscles of the skin, he in an instant arranges his 

 plumage. Now the white voyager is in sight. His long snowy neck is stretched 

 forward ; his eyes are on the alert, vigilant as those of his enemies. His great 

 wings seem to support the weight of his body with difficulty, though they beat 

 the air incessantly. He seems so wearied in his movements that his legs are 

 even stretched out under his tail to aid his flight. At the instant when the swan 

 is about to pass the somber pair the male, fully prepared for the chase, darts 

 down uttering a formidable cry. The swan hears it, and it sounds more ter- 

 rible to his ears than the report of the murderous gun. This is the moment to 

 appreciate the power which the eagle puts forth. He darts through the air like 

 a falling star, and swift as light swoops on his trembling victim, who in the 

 agony of despair tries by various evolutions to escape from the embrace of his 

 cruel talons. He pretends death, makes feints, and would even plunge into the 

 current. But the eagle prevents him ; he has known too long that by this strat- 

 agem his prey could escape, and he forces him to remain on the wing by try- 

 ing to strike him from beneath." 



The beautiful bird that is known to all as the bee eater proceeds like those 

 hunters who, on the shores of the Mediterranean, watch for game on its return 

 from Africa. He posts himself near a nest of wasps or bees and snaps up 

 these little stiletto bearers as they come out or return home. 



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