34 THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 



between disappointment and expectation, is soon dis- 

 gusted, and returns to pursue his more legitimate means 

 of subsistence. 



In striking contrast to this serio-comic strife of the 

 sparrow and the moth, is the pigeon-hawk's pursuit 

 of the sparrow or the goldfinch. It is a race of sur- 

 prising speed and agility. It is a test of wing and wind. 

 Every muscle is taxed, and every nerve strained. Such 

 cries of terror and consternation on the part of the 

 bird, tacking to the right and left, and making the most 

 desperate efforts to escape, and such silent determina- 

 tion on the part of the hawk, pressing the bird so 

 closely, flashing and turning and timing his movements 

 with those of the pursued as accurately and as inexo- 

 rably as if the two constituted one body, excite feelings 

 of the deepest concern. You mount the fence or rush 

 out of your way to see the issue. The only salvation 

 for the bird is to adopt the tactics of the moth, seeking 

 instantly the cover of some tree, bush, or hedge, where 

 its smaller size enables it to move about more rapidly. 

 These pirates are aware of this, and therefore prefer 

 to take their prey by one fell swoop. You may see 

 one of them prowling through an orchard, with the 

 yellowbirds hovering about him, crying, Pi-ty, pi-ty, in 

 the most desponding tone ; yet he seems not to regard 

 them, knowing, as do they, that in the close branches 

 they are as safe as if in a wall of adamant. 



August is the month of the high-sailing hawks. 

 The hen-hawk is the most noticeable. He likes the 



