278 THE GREAT FOREST EAGLE 



probable statement ; there is some evidence from the 

 state of the eagle's skin brought to Europe that it takes 

 its prey on the trees. The quills of several of the wing 

 and tail feathers were broken, * bearing testimony to 

 many a savage struggle among the branches.' The 

 green macaque is the monkey believed by the people of 

 Samar to be the chief prey of their great eagle. But 

 among the monkeys of these islands are several species 

 of singular size and strength. Even if the great apes of 

 Borneo are not found in Samar, there are probably other 

 species of the monkey tribe, like those found in Java 

 and in the neighbouring islands, which would be most 

 dangerous animals for any bird to attack. No creatures 

 are, for their size, so full of unexpected resources when 

 attacked as the medium -sized and large monkeys. 

 Their arms and hands are surprisingly strong. They 

 can leap instantaneously for a considerable distance 

 without gathering their bodies together for a spring, 

 and their power of biting is that of a bulldog. Against 

 birds they have the power, which they well know how 

 to use, of grasping and breaking a limb, or tearing out 

 the wing or tail feathers. Their habit of combining to 

 rescue one of their fellows makes them still more for- 

 midable to animals of prey ; and, with the exception of 

 the leopard and the python, most of these agree to let 

 the ' bandur-log ' alone. A battle between the great 

 forest eagles and the great forest apes must be one of 



