204 Bird - Lore 



the latter about out of an ajiparently never-satisfied curiosity. I even saw one 

 inexperienced little Wren, at the end of a short flight, try to alight on the back 

 of a Sparrow, which simply hopped to one side. From my observations of the 

 attitude of Sparrows toward immature song birds of the various species about 

 our neighborhood, it seems to me to be Sparrow etiquette not to attack young 

 birds of anv kind. 



HAWK'S CHALLENGE 



Winter or Summer, what care I ? — 



The tilled or the untilled plain ? 

 My lot is cast in the blue abyss, 



And the lordly sun's domain. - . *i^ 



Over the broad champaign I float, 



And over the sparkling sea; 

 I mount at will to the peak of heaven. 



And rejoice that I am free. 



Ko, keco, kilio, keeo! 



I exult that I am free! 



.,**•• ^ 



Like a bolt I plunge to the land outspread, 



From the desert realm of air, 

 To dip my beak in the hot, red blood 



Of my little earth-brother there; 

 I pounce, I seize, and I tear, — why not ? 



For the law is aye the same; 

 And storm and battle, pillage and wrack 



Are all a part of the game. 



Ko, keeo, kilio, keeo! 



They are all a part of the game. 



Ko, kileo, ye groundlings born, 



Of the tribes that reap and sow,— 

 Blessing and ban to me are one. 



As up and aloft I go! 

 There are quaking hearts below, I ween, 



For this black shape in the sky; 

 For the Hawk's breed has a Hawk's blood, 



And a Hawk of the Hawks am L 



Ko, keeo, kileo, keeo! 



A Hawk of the Hawks am I! 



— Dora Read Goodale 



