The Washington herald., 1908-08-02
DO BIRDS LOVE SPoRTG
Eyewitness Describes Scene on the
Coast of Scotland.

Coast of scotland.
Far away from the haunts of man on
the wild northwest coast Of the Islands
there Is a gigantic elf. As we stand on
the summit we can see naught but the
cold waves in one direction and the bar
ren rocks on the other
But as we get accustomed TO the dizzy
height. says a writer in the Badminton
Magazine. We see far down below a
number Of white cots floating d7eamily
over the water. On Jagged rock on the
brow OF the cliff a large bird is sitting
The white-tailed. or sea eagle, for this
IS he. is watching with something m re
than ordinary interest those dots far down
on the sea. Presently one Of the herring
gulls leaves its companions and flies
leisureIy up the face Of the towering
black rock.
When II gets ne1rer the top the eagle
crouches on his perch. his feathers are
all ruffied. the crest on his head is raised.
and his wings are slightly lifted His
keen. searching eye noticed long before We
did that the gull had a good-slzed fish in
its beak. which II was carrying 10 its
mate.
Before the smaller bird sees its danger.
the eagle has left the rock and Is flying
fun speed down onto the gull With "A
twist Of its wings and tail the latter sud
denly turns and goes as fast as his long
piniOns viii carry him down toward the
sea.
L IS not a very long hunt. the gull
cvades his enemy for tine by- twisting
and turning in the air. but the greater
bird quickly gains. and JUST as We think
the gull viii be struck dead lie gives cut
a piercing call OF agony and friglt gnd
in doing so drops the fish
To the g'IlTs evident surprise. the eagle
stops in his mad flight. hOvers for - sec
ond in The air. judges the exact Vine in
which the fish Is tumbIing and turning On
It's downward way. and then closes lis
wings 10 his sides, ducks his head. s1c.
ike a big brown arrow. drops straight
onto his hsh.
Z With wonderful deKteTfty he Dicks this
up Ia his talons. and then flaps slowly
onward toward his syrie 400 feet down
/ the towering cliff He prefers q tender
/ fish. freshly caught, TO the tough fash Of
a herring gull
/ That bold little hunter Of the couatr~-
side. the sparrow hawk. must indeed
I have an exciting existence: for. although
/ he seeks a smaller game than the eagles
/ he IS q great deal more bold aad fearless
( and the Lesser birds on which Ee preys
are sometimes exceedingly difficult q
capture.
On two occasions have known him :,
chase the kinEnsher. and a more trouble
f. some quarry IL would be hard 20 hunt
The IW6-t4iTds were 70 be seen coming
i down stream. pursued and pursUer bori
Z straiuing every muscle 20 win n this race
Of life or death
The hawk gained, as is usual b1t Just
as he rose above the bright col0red bird
TO strike. the kingfsbe7. with "A loud
splash, was under the water, and The
i hawk losing his balance, few on sever
yards.
4 second later the kinshsher was VI
snd OF In the opposite direction. but Jht
f1iIed and angry enemy turned and SUI
followed. Again he struck. and again ths
bird ducked. and the hawk struck Uatei
this time.
Several times this exciting chase was
/ repeated. and at last the hawk was drtv,
en- away by two human friends wbo had
been watching. while the king of -islers
took refuge under a stone bridge uu-I Iu,
hawk was FAR away.