EAGLES AND FALCONS 



the bird's, boldness and courage returns, and it pursues its 

 natural calling with the spirit of the wild race to which 

 it belongs. There are many wild animals, however, whose 

 delicate organization renders them unable to stand the 

 severe test through which these bold and savage creatures 

 pass so quickly. Many birds, when captured, are so terror- 

 stricken that they are paralyzed, and for many hours are 

 perfectly helpless, having lost the use of their legs and 

 wings. Excessive fear not unfrequently has this effect 

 upon many wild animals, and no doubt has led to the 

 belief in the so-called fascination. For instance, a rabbit 

 when introduced into the cage of a serpent may skip or 

 hop upon its enemy, whose sudden start alarms the rabbit 

 and causes it to remain motionless ; the serpent, taking 

 advantage of this, instantly strikes at and catches its 

 victim, and generally kills it in the most expeditious 

 manner. 



There can be no doubt about the instruments of death 

 supplied to the brute creation being the most perfect to 

 accomplish the end for which they are intended, and, if we 

 could only ascertain the facts, they probably inflict less 

 continued pain than generally may be suffered by animals 

 that are wounded or killed by other than their natural 

 enemies. For instance, most of the creatures that are 

 preyed upon belong to the more timid class, and when 

 seized, suddenly lose all power, in fact faint and become 

 unconscious, and consequently are saved from suffering 

 pain, dying in a state of insensibility. There are well- 

 recorded instances of persons when seized by the larger 

 kind of carnivora having lost the power of feeling. If I 

 am not mistaken, Dr. Livingstone stated that he felt but 

 little pain at the time the lion bit him, and broke the 

 bone of his arm ; a similar statement was made by Lloyd, 

 author of Northern Field Sports, when attacked and 



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