I70 BIRD PARADISE 



•concealed in the depths of the wood. I never be- 

 fore had seen a hawk of this species at this 

 season of the year or so near the house. The 

 feasting was not an attractive scene, neither was 

 the capture and killing in keeping with perfect 

 peace and quiet in the kingdom of nature. No 

 doubt many persons would be perfectly willing 

 that the English sparrows fall into the talons of 

 the hawks as rapidly as possible. I am not in 

 favor of depriving the bird of any species of its 

 natural food. Now and then the sparrow is 

 serving its country best, perhaps, as an offering 

 to appease the hunger of a fellow bird, and very 

 likely a somewhat diversified diet is better for the 

 hawk ; at any rate, the order in nature is the one 

 to observe, whether we are quite satisfied with its 

 working or not. 



I discovered this morning in my orchard a lit- 

 tle tree sparrow. He was sitting in the tree, a 

 pretty sharp northwest wind ruffling his feathers. 

 To my surprise he trilled a part of his summer 

 song. It sounded strangely so late in the season, 

 and yet seemed most delightful. I watched the 

 fellow a few moments, thinking perhaps he would 

 betray the secret of his wandering and singing so 

 long after the usual time, but nothing came of it, 



