The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-10-28
BATTLE OF BIRDS.
The King OF the Feathery Tribe Defeat
ed by a Water Fowl.

A most remarkable battle took place
at Golden Gate park yesterday morn
ing says the San Francisco Chronicle.
1t possessed great interest to the few
who were so fortunate as to witness it.
The contestants were large bald
eagle and the big white pelican that
graces the pond near the Haight street
entrance. 36sfN
Very often pair of eagles have been
seen sailing in the air and lowering
over the park. They have been known
to catch quails in the deer paddock,
ground squirrel now and then to car
ry off to their young in some crag on
the coast. The bald eagle usually
selects the highest and most inaccessi-
BILE cliff on which to build its nest, and
it is thought the pair of marauders in
question have for years had their home
at some point two or three miles below
the Cliff house.
Yesterday morning several park
visitors observed these two large birds
lowering over the duck pond. They
sailed around in gradually diminishing
circles. rising higher and higher until
they were but specks against the sky,
when suddenly they disappeared from
view altogether.
Perhaps half an hour had passed
when the people seated on the benches
watching the ducks and black swan
lazily padding about or admlring the
ungainly but dignitied pelican resting
motionless on the water. were startled
to see black streak shooting through
the air with noiseless rush. All of
Al 4 IL 4 Al
pond and hid in the bush. The pelican
alone remained unconscious of danger.
Like flash the eagle. for such it was,
fastened its talons in the pelican's
back and attempted to fly away with
the long-necked bird. The pelican.
however, proved too heavy for the
eagle to carry, and after rise of eight
or ten feet the king of birds was forced
to relinquish its hold upon its prey,
which dropped, back into the water.
The eagle was not to be robbed of it's
prize. however, and it made another
swoop.
By this time the pelican had re-
covered from its surprise. It got into
fighting position and received its enemy
with outstretched neck and Tapping
wings. The eagle failed to secure
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the strong bill of the pelican that
caused it to fly away screaming with
rage and pain.
Again the eagle pressed the attack.
As if to gain some advantage, the
pelican reached the land and awaited
the onslaught. The eagle accepted the
challenge, and for time all that could
be seen was mixed-up mess of feath-
ers. The long neck of the pelican
proved to be an effective weapon, how
ever, and the hard bill was repeatedly
driven into the eagles side. at times
knocking it over. Only once did the
eagle get hold with its beak and
talons. but the slight advantage was to
no purpose. as it was Immediately
shaken off by the big white bird.
Finally the battle, which lasted about
four minutes. ended by the eagle taking
wing and beating sullen retreat in a
dilapidated condition.
The pelican is in almost as good con-
dition as when it entered the affray.
save the loss of a few feathers, and
after the battle it sailed about the pond
with a dignified stroke as if conscious
of its clever victory.