THE SPARROW HAWK 



HE sparrow hawk is sometimes called the 

 "killy hawk," from the sound of its 

 note, "killy-killy-killy," repeated in rapid 

 succession. This beautiful and singularly col- 

 ored little bird is quite plentiful in the northern 

 part of the United States in summer, but at the ap- 

 proach of winter many migrate to the Southern States. 

 This hawk usually nests in large woodpecker 

 holes, and consequently rears its brood quite 

 close to the habitation of man. The period 

 of incubation is about three weeks, and for several 

 days after hatching the young are covered with a very 

 soft down; in fact some of the down is not molted 

 by the time the young birds are ready to fly. 



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

 deep woods, and often it may be seen perched upon 

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

 mouse or a grasshopper. When the hawk has located 

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

 dropping quickly, seizes it with its sharp talons, and 



