232 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
ultation. These are the signal for our hero, who, 
launching into the air, instantly gives chase, and 
soon gains on the fish-hawk ; each exerts his utmost 
to mount above the other, displaying in these ren- 
counters the most elegant and sublime aerial evolu- 
tions. The unencumbered eagle rapidly advances, 
and is just on the point of reaching his opponent, 
when, with a sudden scream, probably of despair 
and honest execration, the latter drops his fish ; the 
eagle, poising himself for a moment, as if to take a 
more certain aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches 
it in his grasp ere it reaches the water, and bears his 
ill-gotten booty silently away to the woods/ ” 
“ What a mean fellow !” said Malcolm contempt- 
uously. 
“ It does seem mean enough,” was the reply, 
“when we consider the eagle’s great strength and 
unusual ability to procure food for himself. He is 
not always victorious, however, for several hawks 
will frequently unite to attack him, and even succeed 
in driving him away from a neighborhood; but a 
single hawk will seldom attempt its own defence. 
When the eagle is forced inland, he will go in 
search of young pigs, which he often destroys in 
great numbers. 
“ The little humming-bird attacks the eagle singly, 
and comes off conqueror too. It is an amusing thing 
