234 BEACH GRASS 



the shape of these three classes of hawks in the 

 flight, as we most frequently see them silhouetted 

 against the sky, I have drawn the outline of a 

 freshly killed hawk from each class with wings 

 extended. These outlines were then reduced to 

 one eighth of life size, so that they could be used 

 as an illustration. Under each figure is printed 

 the name of the hawk chosen and beside each the 

 names of the other hawks in the same group. 



A study of the diagrams with the brief de- 

 scription already given should enable one to dis- 

 tinguish a falcon, a buteo or an accipiter. Of our 

 falcons the smallest is the sparrow hawk, next 

 the pigeon hawk while the largest is the duck 

 hawk or peregrine falcon, while the rare gyrfal- 

 cons of the north are larger still. 



The sparrow hawk is a confiding little bird, 

 and often nests in holes in old apple-trees close 

 to houses. He frequently alights on telegraph 

 poles where he waves his tail up and down, and 

 flies from pole to pole ahead of the wayfarer 

 leading him on. Seen at close range, as is often 

 the case, the striking face markings and the rich 

 foxy brown back make his recognition easy. He 



