•228 EEMINISCEXCES OF A SPOETSMAX. 



blow, it was conjectured no further attack would be 

 made until the call of hunger became urgent. The 

 falcon, however, soon regained her station, and it was 

 not long before they perceived the heron, regardless of 

 his foe, again pass very near, when the falcon, in a 

 second attempt to seize her prey as before, was equally 

 foiled, and again received a severe check from the bill 

 of the heron. Finding her efforts failed her for the 

 want of the advantage nature had assigned her, instinct 

 directed the falcon to a box that stood on the opposite 

 side of the room, which was somewhat higher. Here 

 she seemed to meditate another attack, by watching 

 every motion of the heron, who continued his rounds 

 with a view to make his escape ; and it was not long 

 before an opportunity offered for the falcon to make an 

 assault from her elevated station. Here she found a 

 humble substitute for those powers with which nature 

 had amply provided her, but of which she had been 

 deprived, and at last succeeded, by springing from 

 her perch, and seizing the unfortunate heron by the 

 head and upper part of the neck with her talons, which 

 instantly brought him to the ground. Now the unequal 

 contest was soon determined, for in vain did the superior 

 weight and strength of the heron drag and flounder 

 with his enemy across the floor ; in vain did he flap 

 his unwieldy pinions to shake off the tyrant of the air, 

 nor could even his gigantic legs force her from the 

 bloody gripe. The powerful and only dreaded arms of 

 her antagonist were secured, and thus disarmed, he 

 became a sure and easy prey. Scarcely was the gigantic 

 bird prostrate on the ground, than death ensued; for 

 in this noble race, destined for blood and slaughter, 

 torture makes no part of its nature ; but like what we 



