56 STORIES OF BIRDS AND BEASTS 



than the dash of my daylight brethren. I clear the 

 fields of mice and other gnawers, besides spiders, grass- 

 hoppers, and snails ; while as a frog-lover, I am a veri- 

 table Frenchman. 



" I am a faithful Hawk besides, and when I am pro- 

 tected will nest for a lifetime in the same woodland, if 

 there is a marsh or spring near by to furnish my daily 

 frogs. I am faithful also to my mate through life. I 

 help her build the nest and rear our young. If House 

 People are kind to me, I can be a gentle friend to them, 

 even in the trials of captivity ; but if I suspect a stran- 

 ger, he must look at me only at long range, heavy though 

 my flight appears. 



" So I say boldly that I am a useful bird and a good 

 Citizen. If you think a Hawk has stolen a pet Hen, 

 look well before you shoot ; and if he has rusty-red 

 shoulders count yourself mistaken and let him go.". 



" A true account," said the Eagle ; " you stand ac- 

 quitted. Sparrow Hawk, your turn." 



This charming little Hawk, about the size of a Shrike, 

 had all the beauty of shape and color of a song bird, 

 combined with Hawk-like dash. His wings were nar- 

 row and pointed. His back was reddish-brown with a 

 few black bars, and there was a broad one on the end of 

 his tail ; his wings were partly bluish. Underneath he 

 was white, shading to cream color and spotted with 

 black. His head was bluish with black markings on 

 the sides and a red spot on the top. He was not at all 

 embarrassed at being in such grand company, for he 

 was used to the best society, having come of noble an- 

 cestry in the Hawk line. 



" You all know me," he said in a clear voice. " Since 



