Taken in Idaho 

 Photo by Rust 



The Sharp-shinned Hawk 



with terror in a peculiar 

 rattling fashion as they 

 fled, but they always 

 succeeded in evading the 

 stroke. The Hawks were 

 very persistent, but they 

 were always unsuccess- 

 ful (much to our relief), 

 and they gave voice, in 

 turn, to their recurrent 

 disappointments in puz- 

 zled squeaking tones. 

 We were as greatly sur- 

 prised as the Hawks ap- 

 peared to be, that they 

 could not make connec- 

 tions with such easy- 

 looking quarry. 



It is idle to speak 

 a good word for this 

 gory little hawk; he is 

 the raw head and bloody 

 bones of Bird-dom. Ro- 

 dents and insects are eat- 

 en only occasionally, 

 while birds of every size 

 up to pigeons and quails are its regular diet. 

 According to Dr. Fisher, of 107 stomachs ex- 

 amined containing food, 6 held poultry or game- 

 birds, "99, other birds; 6, mice; 5, insects." 



Since these birds bear such a character, the 

 successful oologist may be allowed to point with pride 

 to the elegant series of Sharp-shins' eggs which usually 

 adorns his collection. A set varies in number from 

 three to seven, but four or five is customary. They are among the hand- 

 somest of all eggs, not only because of their contrasting hues, but be- 

 cause of their wide variation. The ground-color is always a delicate 

 greenish white, but the markings are of lilac, brown, green, or red, and 

 vary in size from a pin-point to irregular blotches covering half the 

 egg. 



The nest is usually placed in some secluded situation in an evergreen 

 close to the trunk of the tree, and at a height from the ground of from 



1662 



THE HOBBLEDEHOY 

 STAGE 



