568 ANIMALS THAT HUNT. 



that waits hanging from the trees by his tail so inuiiovable that he 

 can not be distinguished from the surrounding l)ranclies. When an 

 animal is about to pass he lets himself fall upon it. Various leeches 

 in Africa proceed in the same manner. In passing through virginal 

 forests onl}' too frequently one hears a sudden noise like hail falling 

 on the l)ranches. It is not falling hail, l)ut leeches which hasten to 

 attach themselves to beasts of burden and to men, from whom they 

 hasten to suck the blood. They were watching their chance, perched 

 on the l)ranches — an odd dwelling place, l)y the way, for creatures 

 that are generally considered aquatic. 



The bird of prey called the Pygargus sea eagle also waits till his 

 victim comes within range. Audubon has picturesquely sketched 

 him. "Behold," says he, "just at the bank of a great river the eagle, 

 perched upright on the last branch of the highest tree. His eye, glit- 

 tering with a somber tire, sweeps over a vast stretch. He listens, 

 and his subtle ear is open to every distant sound. From time to time 

 he casts a glance downward to the earth for fear lest even the light 

 step of the fawn may escape him. His female is perched on the oppo- 

 site bank, and if all remains tranquil and silent she admonishes him, 

 b}' a cr}', still to l)e patient. At the well-known signal the male partly 

 opens his immense Avings, bends his, body slightly downward, and 

 answers her with another cry like a burst of maniac laughter. Then 

 he resumes his upright position and again all is silent. Ducks of all 

 sorts, teals, scoters, and others pass before him in swift flocks and 

 descend the river, but the eagle does not deign to notice them; they 

 are not worthy of his attention. Suddenh' like the hoarse note of a 

 clarion the voice of the swan resounds, still distant, but coming 

 nearer. A piercing cry comes across the river from the female, not 

 less active, not less alert than her mate. He shakes all his bod}^ vio- 

 lently, and by several shakes of his head, aided by the action of the 

 muscles of the skin, he in an instant arranges his plumage. Now the 

 white voyag-er is in sight. His long snowy neck is stretched forward; 

 his eyes are on the alert, vigilant as those of his enemies. His great 

 wings seem to support the weight of his body with difficulty, though 

 they beat the air incessantly. He seems so wearied in his movements 

 that his legs are even stretched out under his tail to aid his flight. At 

 the instant when the swan is about to pass the somber pair the male, 

 fully prepared for the chase, darts down uttering a formidable cry. 

 The swan hears it, and it sounds more terrible to his ears than the 

 report of the murderous gun. This is the moment to appreciate the 

 power which the eagle puts forth. He darts through the air like a 

 falling star, and swift as light swoops on his trembling victim, who 

 in the agony of despair tries by various evolutions to escape from the 

 embrace of his cruel talons. He pretends death, makes feints, and 

 would even plunge into the current. But the eagle prevents him; he 



