36 BIRD PARADISE 



was being experienced. Going down to the gar- 

 den I soon discovered the cause of the commo- 

 tion. A sparrow hawk had captured one of the 

 smaller birds and was so busy dissecting his 

 prize that he did not see me until I was quite 

 near him. I felt no enmity toward the fellow, 

 as I knew he was simply providing food for his 

 breakfast. I do not see him when I think he is 

 really hunting for the sport of the thing. It 

 may be that there are times when he makes a 

 pastime of securing his meals. He certainly 

 moves with a celerity and skill that might well 

 awaken a feeling of real pride over the posses- 

 sion and use of such a gift. I have seen him 

 when he took great risks ; in fact, all of the hawk 

 family will, at times, incur great danger in carry- 

 ing out their plans. On the old farm the visits 

 of these birds was a daily occurrence through the 

 summer. All sorts of devices were used to pre- 

 vent their depredations. I remember well think- 

 ing in my boy way that the hawk was really not 

 to be blamed for being a hawk and using his 

 powers as it was intended he should use them. 



My flicker tenants are present at the summer 

 trysting place in full season. A whir of wings 



