64 VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



velocity through all its turnings and windings, and 

 when within a few feet, protrudes its talons, grasps the 

 prize, and bears it away to some secluded place and 

 devours it. Sometimes it sweeps over the water and 

 catches up ducks and other swimming birds. This 

 falcon is about a foot and a half in length. The Pere- 

 grine Falcon of Europe, very much like this species, 

 was formerly much used in falconry, a fashionable 

 sport of kings, nobles, and fair ladies. 



The Sparrow Hawk, of Amer- 

 ica, is the smallest of the hawks, 

 being but little larger than the 

 common robin. It preys upon 

 small birds, mice, and insects. 

 It becomes attached to a partic- 

 ular locality, and may be seen 

 day after day on the same tree 

 or stump watching for prey. 



The Bald, or White-headed 

 Fie. 107. — Sparrow Hawk. -r\ ^ i- tvt xi « 



Eagle, of JSIorth America, is 



found along the sea-coasts, lakes, and rivers, and usu- 

 ally makes its nest on some tall tree. Although called' 

 Bald, its head is clothed with white feathers. Its prin- 

 cipal food is fish, which it obtains mainly by robbing 

 the Osprey, or Fish-Hawk. Seated on a dead limb of 

 a large tree that commands a view of the waters, it 

 watches the Fish-Hawk as he descends and plunges into 

 the deep, and, as he emerges with his prey and rises into 

 the air, the Eagle gives chase ; each moves with its ut- 

 most speed, but the Eagle rapidly gains, and as it is 

 about to reach the Hawk, the latter drops the fish ; the 

 Eagle sweeps downward, snatches it before it reaches 

 the water, and bears it away to the woods. 



