34 WILD LIFE IN THE TREE TOPS 



in a dashing stoop, so accurately timed that the astonished Buzzard would 

 duck his head to avoid that black form that whizzed by him like a shell from 

 a field gun. 



And hardly had he recovered from the shock than the other crow, turning 

 over in the air, would follow with another well-timed shot, and again the 

 Buzzard flinched involuntarily as the sable form flashed past. 



By this time the first crow, who had really thrown up to a most creditable 

 height, was in position for a second stoop, and with the advantage of a greater 

 height to help his speed, the shot was considerably harder than the preceding 

 one, so hard that, as he almost struck the Buzzard's head, he literally 

 bounced again into the air. 



Things seemed to be becoming altogether too hot for the demoralized 

 Buzzard, who, since he was clinging to the beech branch, was quite unable 

 to defend himself. So spreading his wings he set out, with slow dignified flight, 

 to more restful quarters across the valley. 



The crows, whose morale was much improved by this development, 

 redoubled their efforts, and following up the retreating form, put in stoop 

 after stoop, uttering as they did so the curious harsh chattering, almost shrill 

 ' caws,' that a rook makes when shifting from a Falcon. 



Our dignified friend was now becoming thoroughly roused, and all at 

 once, just as one of the crows swept towards him, he suddenly turned upside 

 down in the air, and struck like lightning with his talons at his adversary ; 

 only missing him, it seemed, by the fraction of an inch. This ruse had the 

 effect of distinctly damping the ardour of the crows, for they kept at a more 

 respectful distance, and only stooped in a half-hearted way, not wishing to 

 come to grips with the Buzzard. 



At length they gave up the chase, and retired in the direction of their 

 home. 



But our friend was not allowed to travel far in peace, for now he was 

 traversing an area occupied by another pair of crows ; and these carried on 

 the work of the first. The unfortunate Buzzard again experienced the annoy- 

 ance of having first one, and then the other crow attacking him from the rear, 

 and again tried, by turning upside down and snatching with his talons, to cut 

 down one of his opponents, but again without success. 



We noticed that whenever one of our Buzzards flew at all close to the 

 ground, a fierce onslaught would be made on him by the pair of crows who 

 had appropriated the area over which he was passing. 



Perhaps this fact may have prompted the male Buzzard who like the 

 males of other hawks seem to do most of the hunting to return from his 

 foraging expeditions at a considerable height. 



On one occasion whilst watching the young Buzzards, I saw a Magpie fly 

 into the tree, and take from a branch below the nest a piece of rabbit or 



