4 SPOET IN NORTH AMERICA. 



the air with their short wings, their necks stretched 

 out, their feet pressed vip against their belhes, look- 

 ing eagerly around, as if the}^ scented danger. The 

 flock consisted of five swans, flj'ing, as usual, in the 

 shape of a triangle; but the one at the head of the 

 party seemed more fatigued than the others. This 

 unfortunate the eagles had selected for their iu'ej. 

 At the moment when he passed the oak on which 

 the male eagle was perched in ambush, the latter 

 opened his wings, and uttering a formidable crj-, 

 dashed upon the poor victim like a meteor. The 

 four other swans dropped instantly upon the waters 

 of the river. The poor swan endeavoured in vain 

 to escape. His enemy struck him under the belh' 

 and wdngs with ceaseless ferocity during five or six 

 minutes, finishing by throwing him down upon the 

 bank with his back upon the ground. 



" Then it was that the boatmen and myself wit- 

 nessed the most hideous sight that you can imagine. 

 The bird of prey tore open with his sharp talons 

 the bloody plumage of the beautiful inhabitant of 

 the north, growling his delight over the last con- 

 vulsions of his victim, whilst his beak sought its 

 wa}^ to the entrails of the expiring swan ; and all 

 the while this murder was being committed, the 

 female sat perched upon her tree, taking no trouble 

 in the matter, as if she was perfectly confident in 

 the prowess of her lord and master to perj)etrate this 

 infamous act. At lengtli, however, when the swan 



