148 The Great Bustard 
and sailed away, apparently entirely unconcerned. Arrived at the 
spot below where the Great Bustard had first been struck, Fer- 
gusson and I found a number of the rich russet and black barred 
feathers which adorn the shoulders and upper part of the back of 
the Bustard, also a short way beyond was a mass of white feathers 
from the breast and lower parts which had been knocked out by 
the impact of its 30-lb. weight as it struck the ground. 
It is hardly necessary to say that the Eagle probably had no 
idea of attempting to kill the Bustard and that he struck it out 
of the sheer exuberance of its feelings. A very similar spirit is 
at times shown by Peregrine Falcons, which in pure wantonness 
will stoop and strike some luckless Gull which chances to 
come across their path when they are returning to their nest on 
some sea-cliff. 
