THE SPARROW HAWK. 178 
Next in size and importance to the Eagles come 
the Hawks and Falcons, of which the varieties are 
numerous. They all possess great similarity in their 
formation and habits, mostly pursuing their prey 
upon the wing, securing its capture by the vigor and 
rapidity of their flight. 
The Sparrow Hawk, a neat and very active bird, 
rather less in size than a pigeon, is a frequent visi- 
tor to the farm-house and barn-yard, where it sits 
perched erect upon a fence-stake, watching intently 
for the approach of some unlucky mouse or mole, or 
even for beetles or grasshoppers, upon which it 
pounces with great quickness, and immediately re- 
turns to its stand to devour it. When changing its 
position it flies low until within a few yards of the 
spot upon which it wishes to settle, when it suddenly 
the tattered remains of a child’s clothing, who had been 
carried away from the valley below by the Lammergeier, 
or Bearded Vulture. 
A large Eagle some years ago made an attack upon a 
little boy about seven years of age, residing near the city 
of New York, who, with a younger brother, was amusing 
himself with attempting to reap, during the absence of 
their parents. The bird sailed slowly over them, and with 
a sudden swoop endeavored to seize the child, but luckily 
missed him. He then alighted at a short distance for a few 
moments, when he again renewed the attempt. The brave 
little fellow at once struck at his assailant with the sickle 
which he happened to have in his hand, and so resolutely 
was the blow given, that entering under the left wing it 
passed between the ribs, and penetrating the liver, proved 
fatal. The bird’s stomach was found to be entirely empty, 
which may in some degree account for so unusual an attack. 
