Encounter between Eagle and Great Bustard 147 
has passed only a few yards over my lair, at times coming from 
behind or from some unexpected quarter whilst all one’s energies 
were concentrated in the direction whence the driven birds were 
expected. On such occasions before one can alter one’s position 
and rise to shoot, it has passed out of shot! Unlike so many 
other birds—Wild Geese, for example —which obligingly advertise 
their intentions when being driven by their clamourings, Great 
Bustards are absolutely silent both when feeding or when on the 
wing. True, their wings make some noise but not enough to 
give warning of their approach. A wounded Bustard will show 
fight and at such times will hiss and utter a snorting sound, 
something between a short cough and the traditional ‘‘ Ugh!” of 
2 
the Redskin. On one occasion only have I ever heard a Bustard 
give vent to any cry and that was when it was attacked by 
an Eagle, as [ shall shortly describe. Owing to the velocity of 
their flight and the great weight of their bodies, it not uncommonly 
happens that a Great Bustard if flying at any height when shot, 
on striking the ground, bursts itself and in most instances a mass 
of feathers is knocked out by the impact of the falling bird. 
One of the most memorable sights I ever witnessed when 
amongst the Bustards was in the spring of 1878. We were 
posted for a drive, and the great birds, as so often happens, 
refused to be driven and elected to swing in their flight and 
passed clear of our line of guns. At this moment a White- 
shouldered Eagle (Aguila adalberti), which had been sailing in 
great circles high over the plain, suddenly descended and with 
a falcon-like stoop struck one of the Bustards in the flock, knock- 
ing out a cloud of feathers. The Bustard gave vent to a series 
of loud squawking cries and tumbling over for some 20 or 30 
yards struck the ground violently. Recovering itself, it ran for 
some yards and eventually took wing and followed the rest of 
the flock. The Eagle did not attempt to follow up its advantage 
