Una] AND SYMBOLS. 377 



by robbing other men of the legitimate results of their labours. 

 In obtaining for food a supply of fresh fish, this eagle exhibits 

 all their rapacity and cunning. He does his fishing by proxy. 

 Perching on the bough of a tree, or on some other elevated 

 position on the coast, he watches the manoeuvres of one of his 

 near relations, the smaller and less powerful osprey or fish- 

 hawk (Pandion haliaetus). As soon as he sees the osprey dash 

 down into the waters, and emerge again with his prey struggling 

 in his talons, the white-headed eagle quits his post of observation 

 and darts off in pursuit of the successful fisher. The latter, 

 encumbered with his prey, is quite unable to contend in flight 

 with his pursuer, who endeavours to rise above him ; and the 

 manoeuvres of the birds in this struggle for the upper hand are 

 exceedingly energetic and crafty. The conclusion of the affair 

 is, however, nearly always the same : the eagle, being quite un- 

 encumbered, generally overcomes the osprey ; the latter lets his 

 prey drop with a scream of disgust ; and the piratical pursuer 

 then descends with astonishing rapidity, and usually manages 

 to secure the booty before it reaches the water. MU. 



Great Resources in Unseen Powers. 



The Kalihari has its sirocco during the excessive drought 

 which precedes the rainy season : a burning wind traverses 

 this desert from north to south, and during its three or four 

 days' duration it withers and dries up everything in its path, 

 It is so loaded with electricity that a bundle of ostrich feathers, 

 which remained exposed to it for a few seconds, was itself 

 charged, as if it had been in contact with a powerful electrical 

 machine, and produced a lively disturbance, accompanied by 

 cracking noises, when taken in the hand. As often as this 

 wind prevails, the electricity of the atmosphere is so abundant 

 that every movement of the natives causes sparks to be given 

 off their karosses, or cloaks made of the skin of beasts. D. 



Unsuspected Church-Enemies. 



The ravages committed without our immediate observation 

 by the ship worm (Teredo navalis) arc almost incredible. Wood 



