219 



motlonlesss, it is difticull to piove 

 ness of their vision ._ ^- _ — 

 appreciate. Feeding on insects so exclusively as they do, it 

 to be presumed that they destroy a considerable number or 

 benencial kinds, as well as spiders, which they find in the 

 same localities as the grasshoppers. However, examination 

 ot their stomach contents show the number to be very small 

 compared with that of the noxious species, that it is hardly 

 worth considering." 



"After the several frosts of autumn and in winter, when in- 

 sect life is at Its lowest ebb. the Sparrow Hawks devote mon- 

 lime to the capture of mice and small birds. As a rule, the 

 birds which they capture at this time are ground-dwelling 

 species, which simulate the movements of mice by running in 

 or about the dry grass and weeds. They are mostly sparrows, 

 more or less seed-eating, and hence not among the species most 

 beneficial to the agriculturist. At this season it is common 

 to see Sparrow Hawks sitting on the poles over hay stacks or 

 stationed where they can command a good view of the sur- 

 rounding.s of a hay mow or grain crib, ready at any moment 

 to drop upon the mouse which is unfortunate enough to show 

 Itself. In this way they manage to destroy a vast number of 

 mice during the colder months." 



"The following is an extract from a letter from W. P. Mc- 

 Glothlin, of Dayton. Washington: 'There is a small hawk here 

 called the Sparrow Hawk. It comes about the 1st of March 

 and leaves with its young about August ist. On their arrival 

 they are in large flocks and seem hungry. I have had a num- 

 ber follow my team all day long, and even alight tor a moment 

 cm the plow beam. When a mouse was unearthed it was cap- 

 tured in an instant and quickly killed. The hawks seem tn 

 know just when their victims are dead. They settle on some- 

 thing suitable to their fancy and commence eating the eyes 

 and then soon finish. For two weeks this mouse catching 

 goes on. I have sometimes seen them chase and catch small 

 birds.' " (Bull. No. 3, Hawks ancT Owls, bv Dr. A. K. Fishei- 

 1893.) 



\Vhen bi'eeding, the Sparrow Hawk bas been known 

 to capture voung chickens; their dei)redation,s. how- 

 ever, in this direction are not worthy of consideration 

 when compared with the great benefits the hawks (Id 

 by destroying injurious insects and mice. 



FED MAINLY ON MICE AND INSECTS 



The stomach contents of forty-eight Sparrow Hawk.- 

 captured in Chester county. Pa., and exiimined by the 

 writer are given in the following table: 



