66 



AN AERIAL COMBAT. 



But the eagle is unencumbered, and -can advance and 



wheel with the 

 utmost ease. He 

 is just on the point 

 of striking at his 

 opponent, when 

 the latter, with a 

 mingled scream of 

 rage and disap- 

 pointment, drops 

 his fish. The eagle, 

 poising himself for 

 a moment, as if to 

 make sure of his 

 aim, swoops down 

 like a whirlwind, 

 seizes the ill-gotten 

 booty in his grasp 

 before it can reach 

 the water, and then 

 triumphantly car- 

 ries it off to his eyrie in the woods. 



The reader may be glad to be reminded that a similar 

 scene has been described by the poet Spenser : — 



"Like to an eagle, in his kingly pride, 

 Soaring through his wide empire of the air 

 To weather his broad sails, by chance has spied 

 A goshawk, which hath seized for her share 

 Upon sonae fowl that should her feast prepare. 

 With dreadful force he flies at her again, 

 That with his voice, which none endure or dare, 

 Her from the quarry he away doth drive. 

 And from her griping pounce the greedy prey doth rive." 



BALD EAGLE AND FISn HAWK. 



