Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-04-02
SINGULAR CONTEST
Desperate Encounter Between IN Eagle
and an Enormous Stag.

| Desperate Encounter between an Engl<
| and an Enormous Stag.
Recently some visitors to the High.
lands of Scotland had an opportunity
of witnessing a sight the like of which
was never recorded. They had rested
on a hill to admire herd of red deer
that were led by stag of enormous
proportions, among the knobs of q
game preserve. AS the proud mon
arch of the glen' stood on slight ele-
walton large grey eagle was seen
circling in the air above him. Pres
emily it darted almost with the rapidity
of lightning and fixed itself on the
back of the affrighted stag. 1t imbed-
ded its talons in the flesh of his sides.
struck fiercely with its pinions and
reached forward its beak to pluck out
the beautiful eyes of the animal it was
torturing. The stag, apparently stupe-
fed by fright, at first remained mo-
tonless, but in a moment he put him
self on the defensive. He moved his
head rapidly from one side to the
other, striking the eagle with his
branching antlers. The savage bird
was knocked upon the ground and the
stag, wounded and bleeding, stood ex-
ultingly over it. The eagle, however,
was not greatly injured 1t soon raj
lied and rose high in the air. When it
was almost lost in the distance it was
seen to circle again and in a moment
1t darted on the stag and fixed its tai
ons and beak in his launches. In this
position the frightened animal was not
able to strike it with his antlers.
although it tried hard to do so. AS
last resort he passed his head between
his fore legs, threw himself on the
ground, and rolled over with the inten-
ton OF crushing the bird. The eagle
withdrew his talons and with blood
flowing from its pinions regained its
place in the sky. All the deer in the
herd now raised their heads, and as
they saw the eagle again preparing to
pounce on their leader they ran into a
thicket of evergreens and escaped.
The eagle came near enough to the
ground to make clear survey of the
field and then disappeared.
British naturalists and sportsmen are
trying to ascertain the motive that
prompted the eagle to make such an
attack on powerful stag. They state
that eagles have been rarely known to
kill or to try to destroy creatures thew
did not desire for food What is more
to the point they have never known
them to kill animals of size so large
that they could not carry them away.
They ordinarily seek hares and rabbits.
hnt COn Qtipna offanE 1av ha
ling deer. All of these, however, they
are able to carry off and devour at
their leisure. Eagles appear to exer-
else reason in their hunting expedi-
tons. They do not waste time and
strength, as human sportsmen do DOW
der and shot, on game they do not
want and which they know they can
not make use of.
1t is altogether likely that these nat
urafists and hunters may not know as
much about the milds and motives of |
wild birds as they think they do. The
human inhabitants of the Highlands |
used to engage in savage encounters
with the members of rival clans ap-
parently without cause. They were
possessed of a natural love of fighting.
The eagles of these forest wilds may
have the same disposition. The old |
sought to revenge wrongs |
many years before. The |
eagles OF the same region may seek to
10 the same. Possibly there was an
old grudge" between the parties to
his notable encounter. This stag
night have defended young fawn
which the eagle was trying to kill. The
Eagle might have treasured up the re-
nembrance of the affair and sought
'evenge at the time of the remarkable
The battle was one that
would have delighted Scott or Land
eer.-C CHICAGO Times.