219 



motlonlesss, it is difficult to prove, but in any case tlie acute- 

 ness of their vision is of a character which we are unable to 

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

 to be presumed that they destroy a considerable number ot 

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

 same localities as the grasshoppers. However, examination 

 of 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 more 

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

 birds which they capture at this time are ground-dwellinj; 

 species, which simulate the movements of mice by running in 

 or about the di-y 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 oi 

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

 roundings of a hay mow or grain crib, leady 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 nf 

 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 com<^s about the 1st of March 

 and leaves with its young about -August 1st. 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 ?or a moment 

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

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

 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 anS Owls, by Dr. A. K. Fishei- 

 1893.) 



When breeding, the Sparrow Hawk has been known 

 to captnre voung chickens; their depredations, ho-w- 

 ever, in this direction are not worthy of consideration 

 when compared with the great benefits the hawks do 

 by destroying injnrious insects and mice. 



FED MAINLY ON MICE AND INSECTS 



The stomach contents of fo-rty-oight Sparrow Hawk.-- 

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

 writer are given in the following table: 



