`"Now look here, Franz," said Ernest, presently, "just consider how
this bird could by any possibility have been an eagle. Eagles never
build on the ground, neither can their young leave the nest and run as
soon as they are out of the egg. That is a peculiarity of the
gallinaceous tribe of birds alone, to which then these must belong. The
species, I think, is indicated by the white belly and dull red colour
of the wing coverts which I observed in these specimens, and I believe
them to be bustards, especially as I noticed in the largest the fine
moustache-like feathers over the beak, peculiar to the Great Bustard."
`"My dear boy!" I said, "your eyes were actively employed, I must
confess, if your fingers were unready with the gun. And after all, it
is just as well, perhaps, that we have not thrown the bustard's family
into mourning."
`Thus chatting, we at length approached my pretty wood. Numbers of
birds fluttered and sang among the high branches, but I did not
encourage the boys in their wish to try to shoot any of the happy
little creatures. We were lost in admiration of the trees of this
grove, and I cannot describe to you how wonderful they are, nor can you
form the least idea of their enormous size without seeing them
yourself. What we had been calling a wood proved to be a group of about
a dozen trees only, and, what was strange, the roots sustained the
massive trunks exalted in the air, forming strong arches, and props and
stays all around each individual stem, which was firmly rooted in the
centre.
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