. The bird . about, he snatches its prey before its eyes; the other giowls, but toolate; his tutor, far more nimble, with his black eye, metallic and BIRDS OF TREY. 163 lustrous as steel, has seen the forward movement; he leaps away; ifneed be, he climbs a branch or two higher; he giowls in his turn—he admonishes his companion. This facetious personage has in his pleasantry the advantage due tothe seriousness, gravity, and sadness of his demeanour. I saw onedaily, in the streets of Nantes, on the threshold of an alley, which,in his demi-captivity, could only console himself for his clipped win
. The bird . about, he snatches its prey before its eyes; the other giowls, but toolate; his tutor, far more nimble, with his black eye, metallic and BIRDS OF TREY. 163 lustrous as steel, has seen the forward movement; he leaps away; ifneed be, he climbs a branch or two higher; he giowls in his turn—he admonishes his companion. This facetious personage has in his pleasantry the advantage due tothe seriousness, gravity, and sadness of his demeanour. I saw onedaily, in the streets of Nantes, on the threshold of an alley, which,in his demi-captivity, could only console himself for his clipped wingsby playing tricks with the dogs. He suffered the curs to passunmolested ; but when his malicious eye espied a dog of handsome. figure, worthy indeed of his covirage, he hopped behind him, and, bya skilful and unperceived manoeuvre, leapt upon his back, gave him,hot and dry, two stabs with his strong black beak: the dog fled,howling. Satisfied, tranquil, and serious, the crow returned to hispost, and one could never have supposed that so grim-looking a fellowhad just indulged in such an escapade. It is said that in a state of freedom, strong m their spirit ofassociation, and in their numbers, they hazard the most audaciousgames, even to watching the absence of the eagle, stealing into hisredoubtable nest, and robbing it of the eggs. And, what is meredifficult to believe, naturalists pretend to have seen great troops ofthem, which, when the eagle is at home, and defending his family,deafen him with their cries, defy him, entice him forth, and contrive,though not without a battle, to carry off an eaglet. 164 DEATH. Such exertions and such danger for this miserahle prey ! If thething be true, we must suppose that
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