Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-03-01
Eagle VS.. Duck.

An exciting contest between an eagle
and duck, with the life of the latter
as the tremendous stake, is described
by writer in Forest and Stream. The
duck, blue-bill, had been winged by
the writer, and dropped into the waters
of lake over which it was passing.
AS the sportsman was about to fire a
second time upon his wounded victim,
a magnificent bald eagle rushed upon
the scene, and, with a bold, swift de-
scent, aimed to capture the floating
bird. The duck was too quick for this
new enemy, and vanished like flash
beneath the veil of waters. This was
the opening act in battle between the
two birds that was watched by the
writer with the deepest interest for an
hour and half. 1t is usual, says the
narrator, for winged duck to preserve
itself from capture by the hunter sitting
in boat, by diving, and, after a con-
distance from the spot whence it disap-
peared-often rising in the rear of the
boat, under which it has passed while
at depth in the water.
But, in the present case, the hunted
creature came to the surface every time
exactly at the point from which 1t dove
out of sight. Instinct seemed to teach
it that this was the one absolutely safe
spot, since the eagle must be carried by
it in his rapid course, admitting of no
pause at the point where he planned to
seize his prey. "No sooner had the
eagle darted over the spot" says the
observer, than the duck would reap
pear in almost the exact locality. Nor
was the sagacity displayed by the eagle
any the less interesting. He adopted a
great variety of tactics and methods,
and pursued them with unflagging zeal.
At times he would place himself so
near the surface that his great out
stretched wings would almost dip the
water, and, moving slowly, noiselessly,
and stealthily along, precisely like a
cat, would try to steal upon his prey.
When he thought he had approached
as near as he could in this way, he
would dart like flash, with his great
claws distended to seize his victim.
Then, again, he would place himself in
the zenith of the duck, and fall, rather
than dart, but still with astonishing
CELEBRITY. Sometimes he would fly list
lessly about, as if he had given up the
chase, and as much as to say he did not
care much for duck anyhow. Then
suddenly from this listless mood he
would bound with electric rapidity.
Then he would make succession OF
darts, one following the other with the
greatest celerity, wheeling and bound
ing as if he would not allow his duck
ship a moment to recover breath, and
so tire him out. After something over
an hour of this maneuyering he seemed
to tire of the contest, and, perching
himself upon q neighboring tree, sal
perfectly motionless. Supposing he
had given up in despair, we resumed
our sport. But scarcely had we begun,
when the same 'whir' filled our ears as
at the first, and the contest was renewed
with ten-fold vigor. He used less STRAIT
egy now, but more bulldog pertinacity.
He seemed to have determined to fight
it out on that line if it took all sum-
mer.'n
The duck had grown bold by the
success of its defensive strategy, and
now became actually reckless, waiting
until the eagle had his claws nearly
upon it before diving out of sight. Al
last it waited just one instant too long;
the eagle stuck his sharp talons into its
back, and bore it off in triumph.