THE EAGLE OWL. 
573 
side to side; this is the sign that the enemy is at hand. 
One soon learns to distinguish whether the birds flying 
overhead are Hawks or Crows; the latter, being of course 
more common, appear in larger numbers. Anyhow one 
may rest assured that all birds of prey, Crows, Rooks, &c., 
which may be passing that way, will most certainly stop 
to indulge in their common hatred of the Eagle Owl. 
Rooks dash at the bird with blind rage. Many birds of 
prey, however, content themselves with circling for a 
time in the air above their enemy, while it, with ruffled 
plumage, keeps turning and twisting about, snapping and 
hissing, beating its wings, and going through a variety of 
antics, as though it were determined to dislocate all its 
limbs in its efforts to avoid, as much as possible, the 
attacks of its diurnal enemies. In this manner the 
* 
sportsman is enabled to shoot such birds as may arrive 
from under cover of his hiding-place. This sport affords 
much amusement. 
