The Sparrow Hawk 113 



two or three times, as if to make sure of them, and 

 flew to a near-by tree; but the flight indicated to me 

 that one of its wings had been slightly injured. I 

 did not attempt to make the bird fly again, but after 

 watching it a few moments I returned to my task. 



In an hour or so five blue jays came to the orchard 

 from a grove not far away, and, as is usual with these 

 birds at this season of the year, they were noisy and 

 ready for any sort of a frolic. Shortly after their 

 arrival they discovered the sparrow hawk; instantly 

 their crests were lowered, and for a moment their 

 harsh notes were silenced. Recovering from their 

 apparent surprise at finding a hawk so motionless, 

 they soon found their voices, and one would scarcely 

 believe that five birds could make such a noise. 



At first the jays were content to remain some dis- 

 tance from the hawk and revile him in their language, 

 but as this had httle visible effect on him, and espe- 

 cially as he did not move, they approached nearer 

 and nearer by degrees, finally alighting upon the tree 

 with him; whereupon the hawk flew to another 

 perch, only to be followed in a most tantalizing man- 

 ner by the scolding jays. Several times this was 

 repeated, the jays following closer and closer each 

 time, till at last the hawk became so enraged that 

 he made a dash at the nearest jay, striking him with 



