REMINISCENCES FROM THE MELBOURNE ZOO. 
177 
gate through which he must again pass into captivity, and all shriek 
their welcome and their exultation that he has been brought back among 
them. If they cannot roam the world, why should he? 
TALONS. 
The eagles live together very happily as a general rule, the only 
trouble occurring at feeding time occasionally, when two will happen to 
fix their claws in the same piece of meat. There then immediately 
Deprived of their place in the Sun. 
ensues a terrific flapping of wings and ruffling of neck feathers and looks 
that would kill if they could be translated into action. But usually the 
skirmish ends in protestations. When they clutch at an object, they 
instinctively draw up their legs towards their bodies, and in that position 
it is impossible to let go, for all their muscles and tendons are connected 
with their talons, and the tension becomes so great that they must 
straighten their legs to unclasp an3d:hing. If one catches a man’s arm 
