Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-06-17
STRANGE BIRD DUEL.
Battle Between sn Aggressive Hawk
and Patient Heron.

~He Tokienr ftcrof.
There + apparently nolhiar an ali
Ssr1inud tlet Is weaker and more help
less HraiaEi a bird 81 lirey than tho
coa.Mcu herun With its !Da~ Sharo
biz II can fGnish worms anl G..h ana
even administer sound prniShfuerf 10
aahaals or beasts that come Within tie
slnrc OF the beak. But the Bird Is SO
slrtry md IT'S beak Is s., Iona. thst IL
ree;ns rs IL almost any klrd OF n say
axe bird Of prey could pounce down
upon and seize II by the neck or
head
Nevertheless the heron. ike most
other creatures. has some means Of
eefense which we do not always an
preciatc. \ few years ago while watch
lng a good size heron y.ding I'm the
wafer 81 pond was struck bv It's
peculiar actions. Cooking It's head ON
one side. IL listened and Glanced M
INTO the air and then trembled an over.
II II had taken fright at my appear
ance. why did It not ny away? ! N,x
wondering az this pc uliar action when
suddenly hawk. ciryting ia the air
above. dartei downward in one Of its
swoops. The terror stricken heron in
stead OF flying away squat.od down m
the water and looked ~, heiolezelv nj
the descending hawk. But tie hawl,
did not seize its prey. as / expected.
but made quick turn IN the mir ana
started TO attack the heron from the
other side. The latter merely turned
It's bead around. always keeping lis long
beak directed full towarl the approarh-
ing hawk. Once more the hawk few
ul"aru and around and made another
effort to outiiank the enemy.
These tactics on the hawks part
were Kept up FOR some time. while ,sc
heron squatted down and met the at
Jacks with its beall always turned IN.
ward the enemy. II seemed a fnv.fer,,
70 re why the hawk did not Kin the
heron without 50 much parlevir. Hal
ieen better Instructed In the nature
or ne heron's beak and its ability In
u&hshx an enemy with II would nor
nave thought SO strange or the hawks
nianeuvers. IL had evidently been hurt
IN such an encounter before. and n on
deaVored 10 worry the heron so that II
could be caught of is guard Rnt
AFTER ten minutes OF fighting II looked.
IS II the hawk would be the frsi on,.
To get worn out with the hloodiess
conflict II grew fercer and moro
savage IN its attacks, and finally II Dc
termlned 10 make the attack I'm ear
nest Rising 20 considerable HEIGHT
as ii Intending 10 fly away. Il suddenly
dropped rs il shot from cannon. hon
ing 20 take the heron 81 lis guard hv
The unexpected and swift descent. Hut
The heron was once more prepared for
the conflict. ana the terrible heak was
pointed upward To receive the descend
ing bird. Tho hawk realized lis DANGER
NJ tho last moment nrd tried to check
ITS Roadway. but its momentum was
too great. and It plunged downward
but = little TO one side. until Il struck
the spearlilc bcab ready 20 receive A.
Fortunately FOR hawk and heron. the
beak merely grazed the side OF the
hawks body. ripping ont n handful Of
feathers and inAlcting n slight flesh
wound. The hawk then tuinblcd with
4 splash into the water. and before II
could regain It's equilibrium again tho
heron had Gown away. The hawk
showed 40 particular desire ~ pursue
Its prey and Tapped heavily 10 near-
by tree and sat there for an hour think.
Ing tho matter over.-George Ethelbert
Walsh in Outing Magazine.