270 
FALCO LEUCOCEPHALUS. 
of this dreaded enemy of the feathered race, >• - 
exulting over his prey, he for the first time breath 1 '"', 
ease. He presses down his powerful feet, and dr 1 ^ 
his sharp claws deeper than ever into the heart j,; 
dying swan. He shrieks with delight as he fee*' ^ 
last convulsions of his prey, which has now sunki 11 /;. 
his unceasing efforts to render death as painfull / 'j 
as it can possibly be. The female has watched l e' a 
movement of her mate ; and if she did not assist hj 1 
capturing the swan, it was not from want of " dh ^ 
merely that she felt full assurance that the P 0 '' c jjfil' 
courage of her lord were quite sufficient for the *- 
She now sails to the spot where he eagerly awaits ^ 
and, when she has arrived, they together tur rl ,, 
breast of the luckless swan upwards, and gorge t 
selves with gore. < ^ 
“ At other times, when these eagles, sailing in s® ^ 
of prey, discover a goose, a duck, or a swan, th*'^# 
alighted on the water, they accomplish its destro^y 
in a manner that is worthy of your attention. 
eagles, well aware that water-fowl have it in their f 
to dive at their approach, and thereby elude 
attempts upon them, ascend in the air in opP^J 
directions over the lake or river, on which they^j^t 
observed the object which they are desirous of pos^'^d 
Both eagles reach a certain height, immediately j|S 
which, one of them glides with great swiftness to'' V* 
the prey; the latter, meantime, aware of the e»s 
intention, dives the moment before he reaches th<y ' jt> 
The pursuer then rises in the air, and is met “’aid 
mate, which glides toward the water-bird, that n a *-ii> 
emerged to breathe, and forces it to plunge 
beneath the surface, to escape the talons of this 
assailant. The first eagle is now poising itself ^ 
place where its mate formerly was, and roso® 8 t pi» ! 
to force the quarry to make another plunge, a j 
alternately gliding, in rapid and often repeated r ' it 
over the ill-fated bird, they soon fatigue it, ^ 
stretches out its neck, swims deeply, and makes ^ 
shore, in the hope of concealing itself among to 
