AQUILA CHRYSAETUS. 57 



seemed for a few seconds perfectly motionless. Then, like a bullet from a 

 rifle, he swooped down, and in an instant his powerful talons were firmly 

 fixed in the back of a fine large stag. The monarch of the glen plunged 

 about in the wildest possible manner, evidently in great terror and pain, the 

 eagle holding grimly on, belabouring the stag's sides all the while with 

 heavy blows from his powerful wings, and, when opportunity offered, 

 making desperate darts with his beak at the eyes of the frightened stag. 

 By this time the poor stag's brown sides were red and gory, and, notwith- 

 standing his frantic efforts, he could not disengage himself from his strong 

 and cruel foe. At last, seeming to discover that his antlers could reach his 

 savage enemy, he began raking fore and aft with them in the most vigorous 

 manner, until he managed to send the eagle sprawling in the heather. The 

 stag had gallantly freed himself, but he had not bounded far when his fierce 

 assailant, recovering from his discomfiture, was again on the wing in full 

 chase, and in a few seconds down he came again and firmly fixed his 

 powerful claws in the deer's haunches, so far back as to be out of the reach 

 of his antlers. At this juncture, as if in despair, the stag commenced to 

 tumble about, throwing himself on the ground and rolling over down hill ; 

 but still the eagle seemed incapable of letting go its tenacious grip. The 

 stag then put his head down between his forelegs, throwing himself clean 

 over — heels over head — several times. It was indeed a wild, a wonderful, 

 and a most unusual sight. The stag's efforts were at last successful, and, 

 after getting clear of his murderous enemy, he galloped off. The eagle was, 

 however, speedily up again and in full chase ; but his intended victim made 

 his escape sure by rushing full speed down the hill and into the Glassburn 

 woods." 



I have given this singular struggle in full, as it is the best 

 description of such a large quadruped being attacked by an 

 eagle I have read or seen described by an eye-witness, and can 

 be relied on ; and, as showing the characteristic mode of attack 

 and determination of the eagle, is worthy of record. In his 

 " Excursion," Wordsworth gives a fine trait of the spirit of a 

 young peasant hero's respect for the king of birds — 



" With admiration would he lift his eyes 

 To the wide-ruling eagle, and bis hand 

 Was loth to assault the majesty he loved ; 

 Else had the strongest fastnesses proved weak 

 To guard the royal brood. ... for all 



Were subject to young Oswald's steady aim, 

 And lived by his forbearance." 



And we all know the patriot Tell's forbearance, when, with 

 his bow in his hand, he turned away when the eagle was soaring 

 overhead — 



" And could not shoot, — 'twas Liberty." 



Nor can we forget the grand idea of Byron's tribute to 

 Kirke Whyte when the wounded eagle saw that it was a feather 

 from his own pinion that had sped the arrow to his heart. It 

 was thai which caused the deepest wound — 



" 'Twas thine own genius gave the final blow, 

 And help'd to plant the wound that laid thee low. 

 E 



