/« SPORT m NORTH AMERICA. 



mounted higher and higher, and ahnost disappeared 

 from view, and presently we could only see two black 

 spots, that seemed to dash against each other, %, ap- 

 proach and whirl about and about. Suddenl}^ the 

 black spots came closer to us ; the heron was trying 

 to regain his place of refuge, pursued by the foe, and 

 with his legs and neck stretched out, the head 

 held stiffly and the wings furled, he looked as if he 

 were an aerolite, dropped from some unknown planet. 

 Like a skiKul hunter, the falcon was driving the 

 quarry our way ; but the heron, seeing the danger 

 he was in, made a rapid movement which deceived 

 the falcon and gave the former an advantage of 

 twenty feet. This space, however, was soon re- 

 covered, and the falcon, with a rapid dart, seized 

 the heron by the throat and a close fight com- 

 menced. The heron, pushed to extremity, now 

 threw itself backwards and fought its antagonist. 

 Presently a large feather steeped in blood fell in our 

 midst, and the falcon (for it had belonged to him), 

 staggered back as if he had been shot. We thought 

 it was all over with him, but he was far from being 

 conquered. "With greater fury than before, he darted 

 on his enemy, and a rally ensued which words would 

 fail to describe. After attempting every means of 

 resistance and escape, the heron was gripped by the 

 powerful talons of the bird of prey, and with breast 

 torn open as by a sickle he fell heavily upon the 

 marsh. Scarcely, however, had he touched the 



