210 BIRDS AND MAN 



advance of the other bird, and begin walking on 

 as before. The female had one wing broken, 

 and, unable to fly, had set out on her long journey 

 to the Magellanic Islands on her feet ; and her 

 mate, though called to by that mysterious im- 

 perative voice in his breast, yet would not forsake 

 her ; but flying a little distance to show her the 

 way, and returning again and again, and calling 

 to her with his wildest and most piercing cries, 

 urged her stiU to spread her wings and fly with 

 him to their distant home. 



And in that sad, anxious way they would 

 journey on to the inevitable end, when a pair or 

 family of carrion eagles would spy them from a 

 great distance — the two travellers left far behind 

 by their feUows, one flying, the other walking ; 

 and the first would be left to continue the 

 journey alone. 



