184 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



pings of beaks, which compels him in terror for his eyes, to 

 retreat to his hole. 



It is said that some Spanish gentlemen, who were in New 

 York at the time of the death of General Taylor, attributed 

 this untimely event to the fear and anxieties growing out of 

 a prospect of a collision with the terrible power of Spain ! 

 It is for much the same reason that our friend Jay is said to 

 attribute the nocturnal habits of Eaccoons, "Wildcats, Op- 

 possums, Owls, &c., to their apprehension of his valorous vig- 

 ilance by daylight. Be the facts of the case what they 

 may, no one of these gentry, nor snake, nor mink, nor weasel, 

 can make its appearance without being beset by the obstrep- 

 erous screams of this audacious knave. Nor does he confine 

 his operations to the . defence of his foraging ground from 

 these depredators, from whom he has little to fear of personal 

 danger on account of his superior activity. But he even, 

 sometimes, dares assail the lightning-winged and lordly 

 Hawk. These affairs are very characteristic and very amus- 

 ing, and I have frequently witnessed them. If our friends 

 happen to be in the open ground and the warning cry of 

 " the Hawk is coming," spreads startling through the fields 

 among the feathered people, the foremost in the scattering 

 flight, they dart into the lowest thicket, or skulk beneath the 

 grass and weeds, until the dreaded tyrant, sweeping past on 

 overcoming wings, plunges with some shrieking victim in his 

 talons, into the neighboring forest to tear it at his ease. 



Now, one after one, these valiant knights appear, shaking 

 themselves while they crawl forth as if they would scatter 

 all foul imputation on the air. Now a timid Ja-ay ! is heard. 

 Then another joins the modest cry, and another yet more 

 boldly, until the reveille is fairly sounded. All the wood at 

 once is ringing with the alarm, and now our knaves are in 

 their glory. They gather about the bloody tyrant, with wild, 

 besieging shrieks, but he is feasting, and cannot deign to no- 

 tice, now, the noise. They grow more bold with impunity, 

 and all the small birds for a mile round, are gathered there 



