"It is not a familiar one to the Alps."
"This bird, then, is not a German eagle in your opinion, Von
Dresslin?"
"What is it? Asiatic? African? Chinese?" asked another.
Von Dresslin's eyebrows became knitted.
"That eagle which we all see every day in the sky above Les Errues," he said slowly, "has a snow-white crest and tail."
Several airmen nodded; one said: "I have noticed that, too, watching the bird through my binoculars."
"I know," continued Von Dresslin slowly, "of only one species of eagle which resembles the bird we all see every day… It inhabits North America," he added thoughtfully.
There was a silence, then a very young airman inquired whether Von Dresslin knew of any authentic reports of an American eagle being seen in Europe.
"Authentic? That is somewhat difficult to answer," replied Von Dresslin, with the true caution of a real naturalist. "But I venture to tell you that, once before—nearly a year ago now—I saw an eagle in this same region which had a white crest and tail and was otherwise a shining bronze in colour."
"Where did you see such a bird?"