600 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



This is probably the most destructive hawk we have, a nest with 

 young birds usually containing remnants of partridges, chickens, 

 and perhaps a dozen kinds of small birds, but very seldom any 

 signs of mice or insects. When together, these chicken hawks are 

 always quarreling with each other, and pairs separate about as 

 soon as the young birds are able to take care of themselves. Their 

 scream is, I think, the most petulant, angry, ear- piercing note to 

 be heard in the woods. 



The three small hawks are the merlin, the sharp- shinned, and 

 the sparrow hawk. The first two are commonly called pigeon 



hawks. Sharp-shinned is almost exactly like a small Cooper's 

 hawk, but not so compactly built ; in disposition he is quite as 

 bad, and makes up in general recklessness what he lacks in size ; 

 he is less businesslike, however, and flies through the woods in a 

 crazy, erratic sort of way, apparently with no particular object 

 in view, striking savagely at every living thing he sees, though 

 seldom following a bird if he misses it the first time. These birds 

 have a curious way when alone of darting back and forth between 

 two branches, striking with their claws at some particular knot 

 or leaf, as if for practice, and then performing a most indescrib- 

 able kind of war dance. Being especially fond of young chickens, 

 they will come day after day to the same yard, and are only too 

 often successful in their hunting. At such times it is almost im- 

 possible to shoot them, as they come with a rush and are gone, 



