The Sparrow Hawk 329 



It is a bird of the open country, rather than of the 

 deep woods, and often it may be seen perched upon 

 a dead limb of a tree by the meadow, watching for a 

 mouse or a grasshopper. When the hawk has located 

 its quarry, it hovers above it for a moment, then, 

 dropping quickly, seizes it with its sharp talons, and 

 bears it away to the perch, to be devoured at leisure. 

 I have often watched these birds feasting upon grass- 

 hoppers ; and so intently were they engaged that I 

 could approach very near their watch towers without 

 seeming to disturb them in the least. One August 

 afternoon I very unexpectedly came upon a sparrow 

 hawk as he sat upon a stub, and as he paid no atten- 

 tion to me I watched him for some time. Within 

 half an hour he caught and brought to the stub twelve 

 large grasshoppers, which he devoured with apparent 

 relish. This hawk feeds upon other insects also, 

 seeming to have a special Uking for crickets and 

 spiders. 



When the insects upon which he feed's are scarce, 

 he gives more attention to the capture of mice; at 

 such times he may be found about haystacks and 

 even farm buildings, ready to capture any mouse 

 that dares venture from imder cover. Probably when 

 food is scarce this hawk occasionally captures a bird, 

 but this is the exception, rather than the rule. The 



