172 FOREST CREATUEES. 



watching all his movements. He swept by several 

 times, as if to examine what was to be done ; and once 

 came so near that the chamois was able to deal him a 

 severe blow as he passed. He made no further attempt 

 to approach, and, after sailing round and round on 

 high a few times, disappeared. 



That the royal bird, despite the advantage of evading 

 an attack which his wings apparently afford, does not 

 always escape, a circumstance related in the Memoirs 

 of Stephen Grrellett sufficiently proves. In journey- 

 ing along the road that led past the Putrid Sea he 

 saw a dead wolf, with the eagle which had attacked 

 it lying by its side. The talons of the bird were 

 nearly buried in its back : in the struggle both had 

 died. 



As the mountains around the Konigs See abound in 

 chamois, the eagle very naturally resorts there ; and 

 opportunity is frequently afforded of witnessing his 

 tactics, modified by circumstances. The following ac- 

 count gives an instance of most cunning stratagem ; 

 but it also shows how impotent for attack the eagle is, 

 when his victim is not entirely exposed. A good-sized 

 chamois buck had got upon a ledge of rock, and was 

 gazing downward and about, him as these animals like 

 to do. An eagle perceived him, but as the bird could 

 not approach close to the rock on account of his breadth 

 of wing, he resolved to obtain the prize he had marked 



