'^70 
FALCO LEUCOCEPIIALUS. 
of tills dreaded enemy of the feathered race, whilst, 
exulting 1 over his prey, he for the first time breathes at 
ease. He presses down his powerful feet, and drives 
his sharp claws deeper than ever into the heart of the 
dying swan. He shrieks with delight as he feels the 
last convulsions of his prey, which has now sunk under 
his unceasing efforts to render death as painfully felt 
as it can possibly be. The female has watched every 
movement of her mate ; and if she did not assist him in 
capturing the swan, it was not from want of will, but 
merely that she felt full assurance that the power and 
courage of her lord were quite sufficient for the deed. 
She now sails to the spot where he eagerly awaits her, 
and, when she has arrived, they together turn the 
breast of the luckless swan upwards, and gorge them- 
selves with gore. 
“ At other times, when these eagles, sailing in search 
of prey, discover a goose, a duck, or a swan, that has 
alighted on the water, they accomplish its destruction 
in a manner that is worthy of your attention. The 
eagles, well aware that water-fowl have it in their power 
to dive at their approach, and thereby elude their 
attempts upon them, ascend in the air in opposite 
directions over the lake or river, on which they have 
observed the obj ect which they are desirous of possessing. 
Both eagles reach a certain height, immediately after 
which, one of them glides with great swiftness towards 
the prey; the latter, meantime, aware of the eagle’s 
intention, dives the foment before he reaches the spot. 
The pursuer then rises in the air, and is met by its 
mate, which glides toward the water-bird, that has just 
emerged to breathe, and forces it to plunge again 
beneath the surface, to escape the talons of this second 
assailant. The first eagle is now poising itself in the 
place where its mate formerly was, and rushes anew 
to force the quarry to make another plunge. By thus 
alternately gliding, in rapid and often repeated rushes, 
over the ill-fated bird, they soon fatigue it, when it 
stretches out its neck, swims deeply, and makes for the 
shore, in the hope of concealing itself among the rank 
