FEATHERED FIGHTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 140, 9 December 1911, Page 10 (Supplement)

FEATHERED FIGHTERS.

BIRDS TIIAT ATTACK HUMAN BEINGS. A keeper <if Loelmbar was taking shelter from a heavy rain storm when an eagle suddenly swooped down, seined his log with one talon, and attacked his dog with the other. A short time previously this same bird had been chasing a grouse, which sought refuge near the keeper. After a hard tussle the dog killed the eagle, but so tight was the grip of the claw on the man's leg that he had to cut it olf before the muscles relaxed. Then some years ago two tourists from Coventry were attacked by eagles not far from Pontresma. Apparently they had approached near the nest, for two great birds flew at them with the utmost viciousness and stunned one of them with its wing. A guide beat off the second bird and then both flew away. Some time ago a story of another pugnacious eagle came from Melbourne. A gentleman brought one of these birds down with a well-aimed shot, and tied it to the back of his buggy. Before he had got very far it revived and immediately made an attack on • its' captor, severely injuring him with its beak and talons. After a struggle the gentleman drove a knife into its neck and killed it.

More extraordinary still was the tale of a fight between an eagle and a railway guard, reported two years ago. While the Kivjera express was running between Chalons and Fontaines Lecourt, the chief guard, was nearly killed by an eagle, which was supposed to have entered the van while some luggage was put in at a station.

While entering some particulars in his log the guard was unexpectedly attacked and knocked down, and after a struggle of some fifteen minutes, during which he received some painful wounds, be succeeded in seizing his assailant by the neck and getting the better of it. A sportsman who went out for a day's shooting in the Pyrenees once had an unpleasant experience. A vulture was seen and shot, and soon a second made its appearance. This time the aim was not so good, and the bird was only wounded. The gunner then went forward to seize and kill it, but the wound was only a slight one, and the vulture went for its would-be captor beak and claw. However, he did not lose his head, and shot it at close quarters.

(British birds can put up a good fight at times, as several people have learnt to their sorrow. One day a fisherman was hauling in his lines in Gruden Bay when he noticed an unusual strain on one of them. Hardly had he remarked this ere a great commotion took place on the surface of the sea.

The next minute a bird darted at him, split open the back of his hand, then made a vicious dart at his face and struck him just over the eye with its beak. Hastily picking up a boat stretcher the fisherman managed to break a wing and then despatch it. It was a great northern diver, which bad evidently noticed a fish on his line, dived after it. and swallowed both hook and fish.

About a year ago a clergyman of Wigan described an attack that had been made upon him by a couple of birds while he was climbing 111 Bell, in the Lake District. At first one bird hovered over him and then finally swooped down and struck at his head. When a second bird of the same species put in an appearance the reverend gentleman warded off their blows with his stick and tlien beat a tiftsty retreat. He said he was told they were a couple of great bustards and that other tourists had also been attacked. A correspondent wrote expressing his disbelief that the birds were bustards, whereupon another gentleman wrote to say that he, too. had been attacked not far from Scawfell and had been told the birds were bustards or buzzards. However, as these birds do not resemble one another little light was thrown on the matter.

Throe years ago people who had to traverse a part of Epping Forest by night related terrifying accounts of mysterious assaults by ghostly assailants. For some time no explanation was forthcoming, and then it was discovered that the criminals were a. couple of owls bringing up a family of" young ones in a hollow oak by the side of the road.

Thinking passers-by had some design on their offspring, the parent birds flew out at all who came -along.