142 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



Finally she alighted in the top of a tall tree, too badly 

 hurt to fly again. A fourth shot brought her to the 

 ground. Did this end my troubles? No, within three 

 weeks Pleetwing had a new mate and is still living in the 

 yicinity. He has, however, given up chicken stealing and 

 has confined himself to English sparrows and other legiti- 

 mate prey. The past season he nested in the timbers of 

 our water tank. So long as he leaves the chickens alone 

 be may live there undisturbed. 



The sparrow hawk is one of the smallest of the true 

 falcons. We have three families of hawks, but the falcons 

 have always been most admired by man. Before guns 

 were invented, falcons were trained for hunting purposes. 

 The bird was carried to the field with a hood over his 

 head, and when game was sighted the hood was removed 

 and he was released. The better trained falcons would 

 frighten a goose, duck, or a heron, and chase it until it 

 flew almost directly over its master before striking it. Then 

 with one lightning swoop it would strike its victim, 

 either breaking its neck or crushing its skull, and seem- 

 ing to rejoice when it fell at the master's feet. In 

 Oriental countries some of the falcons were used even in 

 hunting deer. 



Falcons are almost the only hawks that catch poultry 

 or do any considerable damage. Most other hawks are not 

 active enough in flight to catch many birds in mid-air. 

 They feed largely on rabbits, mice, rats, and other small 

 animals, and are a benefit rather than an injury to man. 

 Falcons can be recognized from the other hawks by their 

 trim, slender build, and their longer, narrower wings. 

 They do not sail about so much as do the other hawks, 

 but move with a quick, nervous motion. Many 



