64 VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



velocity through all its turnings and windings, and 

 when within a few feet," protrudes its talons, grasps the 

 prize, and bears it away* to some secluded place and 

 devours it. Sometimes it sweeps over the water and 

 catches up ducks and other swimming birds. This 

 falcon is about a foot and a half in length. The Pere- 

 grine Falcon of Europe, very much like this species, 

 was formerly much used in falconry, a fashionable 

 sport of kings, nobles, and fair ladies. 



The Sparrow Hawk, of Amer- 

 ica, is the smallest of the hawks, 

 being but little larger than the 

 common robin. It preys upon 

 small birds, mice, and insects. 

 * It becomes attached to a partic- 

 ular locality, and may be seen 

 day after day on the same tree 

 or stump watching for prey. 

 - The Bald, or White-headed* 



Fig. 107.-Sparrow Hawk. 



found along the sea-coasts, lakes, and rivers, and usu- 

 ally makes its nest on some tall tree. Although called 

 Bald, its head is clothed with white featluers. Its prin- 

 cipal food is fish, which it obtains mainly by robbing 

 the Osprey, or Fish-Hawk. Seated on a dead limb of 

 a large tree that commands a view of the waters, it 

 watches the Fish-Hawk as he descends and plunges into 

 the deep, and, as he emerges with his prey and rises into 

 the air, the Eagle gives chase ; each moves with its ut- 

 most speed, but the Eagle rapidly gains, and as it is 

 about to reach the Hawk, the latter drops the fish ; the 

 Eagle sweeps downward, snatches it before it reaches 

 the water, and bears it away to the woods. 



