:::::::;:*; CAMPING IN A BARRANCA m::::::::: 



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 flutterino- 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 third 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 would 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 general 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. Taking 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 among 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, coming to the ear down through the 



0^ 189 ^ 



