THE PROWESS OF EAGLES 57 



being the larger in birds of prey generally, and especi- 

 ally in this typical Hawk group) actually hold and 

 kill a hare, a creature several times its own weight ; 

 and the Indian River-Eagle {Haliaetus leucoryphus), 

 a lighter and less powerful bird than the Golden 

 Eagle, can not only carry off a Greylag Goose, but . 

 has been known to strike, lift, and land a fish of a 

 stone in weight, though this quarry taxed its powers 

 to the uttermost, and it could not raise it again 

 when frightened by a shot. In cases like this the 

 impetus of the swoop no doubt counts for a great 

 deal. 



As for the Golden Eagle, it can even master the 

 wolf, a beast not only far heavier than itself, but 

 terribly armed to boot with most punishing teeth ; 

 it is habitually flown at this quarry by Mongolian 

 magnates, but many birds meet their fate in learn- 

 ing their trade, for after the first grip with one 

 foot is made good, the bird must be quick and 

 dexterous in grappling the beast's face with the 

 other foot to avoid fatal reprisals. The cases in 

 which birds of prey have been found killed by 

 animals of the weasel kind which they had seized 

 are evidently examples of nature's penalty on the 

 bungler, and no doubt exemplify a powerful check 

 on these birds, which otherwise would have few 

 casualties to face except in encounters vdth each 

 other. 



The great Owls are not inferior in relative power 

 and ferocity to the Eagles ; a Snowy Owl kept in 

 captivity in Shetland, according to the account of 



