A PLEA FOR THE WASTES. 15 



in the forest than in more cultivated localities. Some of 

 his anecdotes of eagles are really worth notice, as illus- 

 trating the strength and ferocity of the bird. A couple, 

 cock and hen, were trapped at the same bait by Kobert- 

 son. As they were not seriously injured, he wished to 

 bring them home alive. This would have been an impos- 

 sibility to most people, as there is but one way of carrying 

 them with any degree of safety: it is by placing the 

 enormous creature under your arm, and holding his legs, 

 immediately above the huge claws, firmly in your hand. 

 As long as you walk steadily, and do not shake him 

 roughly, the eagle will remain still, and make no effort to 

 escape. But if you stumble, or turn sharply round, it is 

 ten to one that he fixes his talons to the bone in your 

 thigh. Robertson was carrying the two birds in this 

 manner, and, having come a long way, his arms became 

 cramped, and he was trying to relieve them by leaning 

 upon a stone dyke, when one of the savage creatures 

 struck its claw into his leg. The pain was great, but he 

 knew that if he attempted to extricate himself he would 

 lose both birds. So, Spartan-like, he patiently waited till 

 some assistance should turn up. On looking down the 

 road he saw a packman slowly padding along ; but, in 

 trying to accelerate his professional pace by a loud shout, 

 he shook the hen-bird, and she immediately repeated the 

 attack on his other thigh. He was now fairly pinioned, 

 and the pain scarcely bearable. At last the pedlar came 

 up, but his horror was so great at poor Peter's predica- 

 ment, that he only stared in blank dismay. " Toot, man, 



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