38 EYES AND NO EYES 
splendid tuft of feathers that had been blown there by 
the wind. On stooping to pick them up, out from the 
cleft dashed a magnificent eagle, leaving behind him a 
tuft of feathers as a memento. 
Vigilant as the bird is, he is frequently walked 
over. After gorging he gets drowsy ; indeed, it is 
only under these circumstances that such a thing could 
take place. 
Falcons, hawks the larger species can compress 
their feathers and look very slim, if they think it 
necessary to do so. As to the owls, they can hump 
up into any position they think most suitable. It is 
useless to look for these self-preserving traits in any 
of the family kept in zoological collections, for the 
birds are so accustomed to see large numbers of people 
passing and re-passing, or standing in front of them, 
that they treat the whole matter with perfect in- 
difference. They know that at a certain time their 
food will be brought them, and that they are other- 
wise perfectly safe. Then the raptores in a wild state 
have a bloom on their plumage, like the bloom on a 
bunch of grapes, which is not often seen when in 
captivity. 
There is a sameness to be seen in the habits and 
haunts of all shore birds, no matter where they may 
be. All shore-shooters know this and compare notes 
