The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-20 00:00:00

Encounter between an Eagle and Fox.

A correspondent in Strathmore gives us the following
very singular details :—Last week as I was perambulating
the moors of Upper Strathmore, I came to the foot of a
hill called Benalskie. Upon looking up to the summit I
observed a large bird perched on a cairn of stones which
is situated on the summit of the hill. By the help of my
telescope I was enabled to discover it was an eagle of consi-
derable size. When I had approached halfway up the hill
it observed me, and immediately mounted into the air.
Being familiar with these birds from boyhood, I under-
stood it was one of the golden species. Upon reaching
the summit I sat down, in order to watch this noble bird.
At first it rose to a considerable height in the air, then it
approached much nearer to the earth, and I knew from its
manner of flying it was in search of prey. After flying
about for some time, it suddenly alighted about 400 yards
from the spot where I lay. I knew ley its quick descent
that its sharp eye had discovered something, and I soon
found my ideas were well founded, fcr upon looking again
I saw it was devouring the carcase of a mountain hare
In a few minutes I looked again through my telescope,
but judge of my great astonishment when I observed
a fox spring from a bush of heather and seize the
intruder (which had come to rob him of his prey) by the
wing. 'A
well-contested struggle ensued, in which the bird
made a desperate attempt to defend itself with its claws,
and succeeded in extricating itself from its enemy's grasp ;
but before it had time to escape reynard seized it again
by the breast, and seemed more determined than ever.
The eagle made another attempt to overpower its antago-
nist by striking him with its wings, but that would not
compel him to quit his hold. At length the eagle attempted
to take wing, but reynard was not to be cheated in this
manner. At last the eagle succeeded in raising the fox
from terra firma, and in a few minutes ho was suspended
by his own jaws between heaven and earth. lie was now
placed in an unfavourable position for. fighting ; but his
courage did not seem to forsake him, as he firmly kept his
hold, and seemed to make several attempts to bring the
eagle down, but, alas! he soon found the strong wings of
the eagle were capable of raising him above the clouds.
There was now no way of escape unless the bird would
alight somewhere. The eagle made a straight ascent, and
succeeded in rising to a considerable height in the air.
The two combatants were still struggling, and in a few
minutes a disengagement appeared to have taken place.
Ileynard, from sumo cause or other, was obliged to quit his
grasp, and he was now descending much quicker than he
had gone up. His fate was now visible, for in a few
seconds ho was dashed to the earth, where he lay strug-
gling in the agonies of death. I lost no time in proceed-
ing to the spot where the dead animal lay. Upon examin-
ing the body it appeared considerably bruised by the fall,
and there were several deep wounds inflicted on its side.
Life was quite extinct before I reached it. Tho eagle made
its escape in a southern direction. It appeared weak from
exhaustion and the loss of blood, but notwithstanding
managed to fly until at last it was obscured in the dis-
tance.—Northern Ensign.

The corner-stone of the new St. James's Hotel at
BoStbn has been laid, and work is soon to be commenced
°lithe new Grand Hotel, with $2,000,000 capital, at Dor-
chester. A branch line of the Boston, Hartford, and Erie
Railroad, half a mile long, is to be built for the special ac-
commodation of the latter institution.