HEN-HAWKS 141 



nest, and the young hawk was perched now four or 

 five feet above the nest, still in the shade. It will soon 

 fly. Now, then, in secluded pine woods, the young 

 hawks sit high on the edges of their nests or on the twigs 

 near by in the shade, waiting for their pinions to grow, 

 while their parents bring to them their prey. Their 

 silence also is remarkable, not to betray themselves, nor 

 will the old bird go to the nest while you are in sight. 

 She pursues me half a mile when I withdraw. 



June 13, 1853. 9 A. M. — To Orchis Swamp. 



Find that there are two young hawks ; one has left the 

 nest and is perched on a small maple seven or eight rods 

 distant. This one appears much smaller than the former 

 one. I am struck by its large, naked head, so vulture- 

 like, and large eyes, as if the vulture's were an inferior 

 stage through which the hawk passed. Its feet, too, are 

 large, remarkably developed, by which it holds to its 

 perch securely like an old bird, before its wings can per- 

 form their office. It has a buff breast, striped with dark 

 brown. Pratt, when I told him of this nest, said he 

 would like to carry one of his rifles down there. But I 

 told him that I should be sorry to have them killed. I 

 would rather save one of these hawks than have a hun- 

 dred hens and chickens. It was worth more to see them 

 soar, especially now that they are so rare in the land- 

 scape. It is easy to buy eggs, but not to buy hen-hawks. 

 My neighbors would not hesitate to shoot the last pair 

 of hen-hawks in the town to save a few of their chick- 

 ens ! But such economy is narrow and grovelling. It 

 is unnecessarily to sacrifice the greater value to the less. 

 I would rather never taste chickens' meat nor hens' eggs 



