DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11637#0066
-2 TRAVELS IN Ul'PER
where (hey were common ; and I have since been
present at the period of their emigration in the
islands of (he Archipelago, where they rest them-
selves, probably on their way to Asia.
These scenes of happiness and joy, which I had
before my eyes, were on the point of being inter-
rupted and terminating in blood. Birds of prey,
attracted by these assemblies of pleasure, hovered
in the air, and their piercing eyes had already
marked out the victims of their voracity. I re-
solved to be the protector and avenger of these
little societies, and declared war on these ravagers
of the feathered tribe. .As often as I made a
successful shot at one, I congratulated myself on
having preserved the lives and peace of innocent
beings, the delicate works of nature, and so
sensible to her benefits.
Several of these birds of prey were of a species
new to me. No order of birds is so refractory to
method, or has so often baffled arrangement: ac-
cordingly I shall not attempt to assign the place
this species ought to hold in this system or in that;
I shall merely describe it, a proceeding of more
advantage to natural history, than discussions
which frequently teach nothing. It appeared to
me, however, that this bird approached nearer to
the falcon, than to any other genus.
The
where (hey were common ; and I have since been
present at the period of their emigration in the
islands of (he Archipelago, where they rest them-
selves, probably on their way to Asia.
These scenes of happiness and joy, which I had
before my eyes, were on the point of being inter-
rupted and terminating in blood. Birds of prey,
attracted by these assemblies of pleasure, hovered
in the air, and their piercing eyes had already
marked out the victims of their voracity. I re-
solved to be the protector and avenger of these
little societies, and declared war on these ravagers
of the feathered tribe. .As often as I made a
successful shot at one, I congratulated myself on
having preserved the lives and peace of innocent
beings, the delicate works of nature, and so
sensible to her benefits.
Several of these birds of prey were of a species
new to me. No order of birds is so refractory to
method, or has so often baffled arrangement: ac-
cordingly I shall not attempt to assign the place
this species ought to hold in this system or in that;
I shall merely describe it, a proceeding of more
advantage to natural history, than discussions
which frequently teach nothing. It appeared to
me, however, that this bird approached nearer to
the falcon, than to any other genus.
The