126 GAME-BIRDS AT HOME. 



of your second another long neck droops, two 

 more big wings are folded. 



Strange sights might formerly be seen upon 

 these plains, and once I saw a touching instance 

 of brotherly love. A goose fell behind a flock 

 into which my companion had fired, settling 

 lower with slower stroke of wing. Two other 

 geese fell back and, coming to the side of the 

 wounded one, seemed trying to cheer and sustain 

 him. Yet slower became his stroke of wing and 

 lower he settled, with his companions clinging to 

 the last hope of helping him. But from above 

 a broad dark line shot downward on a long in- 

 cline, aimed directly at the failing goose. With 

 melancholy Wonk his two friends steered away, 

 leaving him to the eagle against which it was 

 useless to try to protect him. Right above the 

 goose the broad line turned and shot away on 

 high ; foi the eagle had missed his stroke and, 

 with quick turn of wings, glanced far upward with 

 his momentum. Then catching himself in air he 

 turned again and, shooting swiftly down, reached 

 the victim as it was settling into the grass. 



On these grounds fine sport could once be had 

 with a rifle. Care was needed to make the first 



