542 THE DESERT SPARROW HAWK. 
grasshopper. The Falcon trusts, so far as his prey is concerned, to his ele- 
vated position, and does not hesitate to glance freely from side to side; while 
the way farer is regarded as likely as not with a frank curiosity not unmingled 
with friendliness. 
Much time is spent, also, upon the wing, not circling after the manner of 
Accipiters and Buteos, but in passing rapidly over the scene, or else flying 
slowly but directly over such promising areas 
as grassy meadows and fallow fields. Now 
and again the bird checks itself suddenly and 
pauses at a good height to study a suspicious 
movement in the grass below. It will thus 
flutter over one spot for a minute at a time, 
and then pass on disappointed, or else pounce 
suddenly upon its prey and bear it off to some 
elevated perch for quiet consumption. When 
the wind is blowing strongly, the Hawk no 
longer flutters at its critical stops but only 
balances upon the wind, so nicely, indeed, that 
its wings are almost motionless. 
Always graceful, the Sparrow Hawk is seen 
to best advantage during the courting season, 
when the male reaffirms his fondness for his 
life-long mate by circling about her as she sits 
upon the tree-top; or he measures the height 
of his devotions by ascending to the clouds be 
fore her, and dashing himself at her feet again 
with shrill cries of Killy, killy, killy. To hear 
the snarling clamor of the birds, one would 
think that they were not getting on nicely; but 
this is a mistake, for the high-pitched conver- 
sation is really very amiable in character, and 
neither bird would think of parting from its 
consort, for however brief a space of time, 
Photo by A. W. Anthony 
A GREASEWOOD STATION without a screamed farewell of unquestionable 
tenderness. 
Sparrow Hawks nest in holes in trees when these are convenient, using 
either natural cavities or the deserted tenements of Flickers and Lewis Wood- 
peckers. The higher these rented quarters the better the birds are satisfied, 
but holes not over four feet from the ground are of record. In default of 
such accommodations, old Magpies’ nests, or even open-topped Crows’ nests 
have been utilized; but a more common expedient is to resort to the romantic 
crannies and hidey-holes of the lava cliffs. In such situations this diminutive 
