mth Nof^s on the Water Shrew and Thrush, 235 



neck of land), saw an eagle rising above the steep mountains 

 that enclose the narrow valley. The eagle himself was, in- 

 deed, no unusual sight ; but there is something so imposing 

 and majestic in the flight of this noble bird, while he soars 

 upwards in spiral circles, that it fascinates the attention of 

 most people.* But the spectators were soon aware of some- 

 thing peculiar in the flight of the bird they were observing. 

 He used his wings violently; and the strokes were often re- 

 peated, as if he had been alarmed and hurried by unusual 

 agitation ; and they noticed, at the same time, that he wheeled 

 in circles that seemed constantly decreasing, while his ascent 

 was proportionally rapid. The now idle haymakers drew 

 together in close consultation on the singular case, and conti- 

 nued to keep their eyes on the seemingly distressed eagle, 

 until he was nearly out of sight, rising still higher and higher 

 into the air. In a short while, however, they were all con- 

 vinced that he was again seeking the earth, evidently not as 

 he ascended, in spiral curves ; it was like something falling, 

 and with great rapidity. But, as he approached the ground, 

 they clearly saw he was tumbling in his fall like a shot bird ; 

 the convulsive fluttering of his powerful wings stopping the 

 descent but very little, until he fell at a small distance from 

 the men and boys of the party, who had naturally run for- 

 ward, highly excited by the strange occurrence. A large 

 black- tailed weasel or stoat ran from the body as they came 

 near, turned with the usual nonchalance and impudence of the 

 tribe, stood up upon its hind legs, crossed its fore paws over 

 its nose, and surveyed its enemies a moment or two (as they 

 often do when no dog is near), and bounded into a saugh 

 bush. The king of the air was dead ; and, what was more 

 surprising, he was covered with his own blood; and, upon 

 further examination, they found his throat cut, and the stoat 

 has been suspected as the regicide unto this day." 



This singular story I always looked upon as too good to 

 be true, until lately a friend mentioned the following fact that 

 came under his own observation : — A light snow covered the 

 ground ; and he, having walked out to an adjoining hill to 

 meet with one of his shepherds, fell in with the track of one 

 of these weasels, which is easily to be distinguished from that 

 of the smaller species, by the larger footprint and length of the 

 spring, among the snow. He followed the track for some 

 time, for his amusement, along the side of the hill, until he 

 came to the marks where a pair of grouse had been sitting, 



• In general, the motion of his wings is hardly perceptible : an impetus is 

 given, but the stroke is far between, and he seems impelled by some invi- 

 sible power. . ^ 



R 2 



