BEASON. 
129 
‘ that was clever! * and much as I should have liked to 
have had the bird for my collection, I was delighted to 
see the skill he had shown in escaping, where escape 
seemed to us impracticable.” 
All birds soon learn to know their enemies. Eooks, 
Swallows and Water Wagtails, which are those most 
given to mobbing birds of prey, take very good care not 
to disturb any that are likely to prove dangerous, because 
either they or some one of their species has learnt from 
experience that such conduct is hazardous in the ex¬ 
treme. A Kestrel or Sparrow-hawk is certain to be 
mobbed and insulted, whereas a Hobby will be respected 
or feared. On the Lake of Mensaleh I saw Ducks 
sitting undisturbed in close proximity to the Fish Hawk 
(Pandion haliceetos ), while the appearace of a Sea Eagle 
(Haliceetos albicilla), or any large Falcon, occasioned the 
greatest alarm, and immediately put them to flight. 
How closely birds can discriminate, and how cor¬ 
rectly they can determine each individual enemy, and 
the precautions they take for their own safety may be well 
imagined from the following observations of the Freiherr 
Y. Seyffertitz. An immense morass situated in the 
neighbourhood of that observer's residence was at certain 
times of the year covered with thousands of Ducks, and 
these attracted numerous birds of prey of different species. 
One morning a Sea Eagle approached the marsh with 
lazy flight, doubtless with the intention of picking up one 
of the Ducks for breakfast. As soon as the latter had 
observed the enemy, they immediately took wing, flying 
hither and thither over the morass, well knowing that the 
sluggish bird was not able to strike a Duck on the wing: 
he chased them here, there and everywhere, but, after a 
quarter of an hour’s useless pursuit, gave it up in despair 
