334 The Sparrow Hawk 



with him; whereupon the hawk flew to another 

 perch, only to be followed in a most tantalizing man- 

 ner by the scolding jays. Several times this was 

 repeated, the jays following closer and closer each 

 time, till at last the hawk became so enraged that 

 he made a dash at the nearest jay, striking him with 

 his talons in such a way as to pull out a few feathers. 

 At this unexpected onslaught of the hawk, the noisy 

 band of jays retreated to the forest, leaving "Killy" 

 in the orchard. 



The sparrow hawk, if taken from the nest while 

 quite young, becomes one of the most charming of 

 bird pets. The beautiful coloring of the feathers, 

 the unusual intelligence and the graceful movements 

 of the bird endear him to the few who have really 

 come to know him. A friend of mine who had a 

 tame one several years ago, told me that of all the 

 birds he had tamed and loved, he cared most for his 

 sparrow hawk. This hawk seemed to show no affec- 

 tion for any one but its master ; but of him it was very 

 fond, often, when he was out in the open field, alighting 

 most unexpectedly upon his head or shoulder It 

 spent the greater part of the time about the open 

 fields and orchard catching insects and mice; occa- 

 sionally it would go to the woods, being absent some- 

 times nearly all day. The hawk enjoyed nothing 



