168 FOREST CREATURES. 



was fed, and devoured at once about seven pounds of 

 meat. 



I alluded above to certain reasons on account of which 

 the eagle would not always be able to obtain prey, wide 

 as his domain might be. A falcon pounces down on its 

 booty ; and then tears and devours it on the ground. 

 He can do this without fear of meeting resistance, as it is 

 smaller birds only that he preys upon. He masters them 

 at once ; he has not to guard against getting himself into 

 danger while securing them. He is small of body, and 

 can pass in and out of and among adjacent objects, 

 where a bird mth a larger expanse of wing would not 

 dare to enter. 



An eagle will only carry off such object as he can 

 seize in sweepmg by. He will not descend to any 

 spot of ground, unless he can leave it again describing 

 the same bold curve with which he came. He will not 

 risk being hemmed in within narrow limits. An open 

 field is indispensable to him for his tactics. The object 

 must be freely exposed, or he will hardly venture to 

 attempt making it his own. As a swallow rushes 

 downward in a curve to catch the insects hovering over 

 the pond and upwards again on high, in his flight de- 

 scribing an ellipse, so does the eagle, and thus only, 

 sweep down to seize a lamb or other animal. It must 

 be swept off the ground in full flight : — it must be 

 caught up at once without any hindrance : there must 



