when they are fed on the wing, taking their food as they 

 hover on trembling pinions from their parent's beak. In a 

 little while the food is dropped as the parent passes, and the 

 youngsters are made to catch it as it falls. From thence, 

 onwards, they have to do their own hunting. The clumsy 

 ones must die. Eagles and hawks, in hke manner, teach 

 their young to capture swiftly moving prey by dropping 

 food to them in mid-air. If one fails to catch it the parent 

 swoops down and seizes the hard-won meal before it reaches 

 the ground ; then mounting aloft with it, drops it once more, 

 till, at last the required dexterity is gained. 



124 



