Kites, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 



The falconers of Europe divided birds employed in their sport 

 into two classes, those of falconry and those of hawking; the lat- 

 ter class containing such "ignoble" birds as our goshawk, broad 

 winged buzzard, the sparrow hawk, and those of their kin that 

 dart upon their quarry by a side glance ; the true falcons being 

 "noble " birds, because they soar to heights unseen, and drop from 

 a perpendicular like a thunderbolt on a selected victim. It was 

 the European counterpart of our duck hawk that furnished royal 

 sport in the Middle Ages. 



American sportsmen best know how unerring is the marks- 

 manship of this marauder. The teal, one of the swiftest travellers 

 on wings, will be whistling its way above the sloughs, when, 

 quicker than thought, its throat is seized by an unseen, unsus- 

 pected foe dropped from the clouds. It is choked to death even 

 while both birds are falling to the ground ; and in less time than 

 its takes to tell, the "noble" falcon will have torn the feathers 

 from the duck's warm breast, and begun a bloody orgy. Only 

 the fortunate duck attacked above water, into which it may 

 plunge and swim below the surface, stands a reasonable chance 

 of escape. Geese and the larger fowls may be stunned by the 

 blow as the falcon falls upon them ; but not until the assassin, 

 after repeated onslaughts, finally strangles its prey, does the 

 plucky bird cease its heroic fight for life. Little birds are eaten 

 entire, but the entrails of larger ones remain untouched. Follow- 

 ing the immense flocks of water-fowl in their migrations, the fal- 

 con makes sad havoc among them. It is amazing how large a 

 bird the villain can bear away with ease. Pigeons, Bob Whites, 

 grouse, meadow larks, hares, and herons are conspicuous victims ; 

 but even the courageous crow becomes a limp coward in the 

 neighborhood of this most audacious, fleet-winged, strong-footed 

 rascal. "No bird is more daring," says Mr. Chapman ; "I have 

 had duck hawks dart down to rob me of wounded snipe lying 

 almost at my feet, nor did my ineffective shots prevent them 

 from returning." Ospreys often band together to wreak their 

 vengeance on the eagle, but apparently the falcon pursues his 

 bloody career unmolested. In his presence every bird quakes. 



The nest, built on rocky cliffs or in the hollow limbs of tall 

 trees, contains three or four creamy white or fawn colored eggs 

 irregularly blotched, smeared, and streaked with brown and 

 brownish red. 



329 



