Some Characteristic Birds. 



85 



all earnest, thoughtful women, who by 

 their example and speech should create 

 such an enthusiasm as will produce a mag- 

 netic current which will draw into its ever 



widening circle so many intelligent women 

 that to see a hat or bonnet ornamented 

 with the wings or breast of a bird will be 

 a novel and uncommon sight. 



R. F. Baxter. 



SOME c:haracteristic birds 



A WIDE-AWAKE BIRD. 



THE sharp-shinned hawk has been 

 pronounced by Mr. Audubon " the 

 miniature of the goshawk." Not only is 

 this likeness in its appearance, but in the 

 irregular, swift, vigorous, varied, yet often 

 undecided manner of flight, which is at 

 times, however, greatly protracted. It 

 moves by sudden dashes, as if impetuosity 

 of movement were essential to its nature, 

 and pounces upon, or strikes such objects 

 as best suit its appetite, but so very sud- 

 denly that it appears quite hopeless for 

 any of them to try to escape. 



It is often seen descend headlong into a 

 clump of briers, regardless of all thorny 

 obstacles, and to emerge from the other 

 side clutching in its sharp claws a sparrow 

 or a finch. At other times, two or three of 

 them may be seen conjointly attacking a 

 golden-winged woodpecker, which has 

 taken position against the bark of a tree in 

 fancied security. While defending itself 

 from the attack of one or two of these 

 hawks, the woodpecker is usually van- 

 quished by the efforts of another, which 

 thrusts its legs forward with vivid quick- 

 ness, protrudes its sharp talons and seizes 

 its victim by the back, which it tears 

 and lacerates. Thus wounded, it falls to 

 the ground with its captor; a disengaged 

 hawk now tears out its vitals with its 

 claws, and the repast of the assailants com- 

 mences. 



Young chickens are often seized by it 

 even in the presence of their keepers, and 



as many as twenty or thirty have been car- 

 ried away by one hawk in as many con- 

 secutive days. Birds of various sizes, from 

 the smallest warbler to the passenger pigeon, 

 are included in its food. 



The roosting places of these hawks, in 

 ordinary seasons, are in the fissures of rocks, 

 in tall trees in isolated situations, and in 

 precipitous declivities overhanging turbu- 

 lent streams; but it cautiously retires after 

 daylight has departed, and leaves its rest- 

 ing place before the light of morning. Its 

 nest has not often been invaded by the 

 curious investigator into its habits at the 

 season of incubation. Mr. Audubon says: 

 '' I found a nest of this hawk in a hole of 

 the well known 'Rock-in-cave,' on the Ohio 

 river, in the early part of the spring of 

 1 81 9. It was simply constructed, having 

 been formed of a few sticks and some grass 

 carelessly interwoven, and placed about 

 two feet from the entrance of the hole. 

 The eggs, four in number, were nearly 

 hatched. They were almost equally round- 

 ed at both ends, though somewhat elon- 

 gated. Their ground color was white, with 

 a livid tinge, scarcely discernible, however, 

 amidst the numerous markings and blotches 

 of reddish chocolate with which they were 

 irregularly covered." 



He afterward found a nest in the hollow 

 prongs of a sycamore, on the Ohio, near 

 Louisville, and another in the forks of a 

 low oak upon the prairie land near Hender- 

 son, Kentucky. 



G. B. G. 



