AMERICAN SPARROW-HAWK. 247 



skeleton and wings to fall to the ground, where they may apprise the 

 traveller that a murder has been committed. 



Thus, reader, are the winter months spent by this little marauder. 

 When spring returns to enliven the earth, each male bird seeks for its 

 mate, whose coyness is not less innocent than that of the gentle dove. 

 Pursued from place to place, the female at length yields to the importunity 

 of her dear tormenter, when side by side they sail, screaming aloud their 

 love notes, which if not musical, are doubtless at least delightful to the 

 parties concerned. With tremulous wings they search for a place in which 

 to deposit their eggs secure from danger, and now they have found it. 



On that tall mouldering headless trunk, the hawks have alighted side 

 by side. See how they caress each other ! Mark ! The female enters 

 the deserted Woodpecker's hole, where she remains some time measuring 

 its breadth and depth. Now she appears, exultingly calls her mate, and 

 tells him there could not be a fitter place. FuU of joy they gambol through 

 the air, chase all intruders away, watch the Grakles and other birds to 

 which the hole might be equally pleasing, and so pass the time, until the 

 female has deposited her eggs, six, perhaps even seven in number, round, 

 and beautifully spotted. The birds sit alternately, each feeding the 

 other and watching with silent care. After a while the young appear, 

 covered with white down. They grow apace, and now are ready to go 

 abroad, when their parents entice them forth. Some launch into the air 

 at once, others, not so strong, now and then fall to the ground ; but all 

 continue to be well provided with food, until they are able to shift for 

 themselves. Together they search for grasshoppers, crickets, and such 

 young birds as, less experienced than themselves, fall an easy prey. The 

 family still resort to the same field, each bird making choice of a stand, 

 the top of a tree, or that of the Great Mullein. At times they remove to 

 the ground, then fly off in a body, separate, and again betake themselves 

 to their stands. Their strength increases, their flight improves, and the 

 field-mouse seldom gains her retreat before the little Falcon secures it for 

 a meal. 



The trees, of late so richly green, now disclose the fading tints of 

 autumn ; the cricket becomes mute, the grasshopper withers on the fences, 

 the mouse retreats to her winter quarters, dismal clouds obscure the 

 eastern horizon, the sun assumes a sickly dimness, hoarfrosts cover the 

 ground, and the long night encroaches on the domains of light. No longer 



