


THE RED-TAILED HAWK. 395 
severed the snake, and brought the hawk to his barn where 
he kept him alive for some time. The part of the snake 
attached to the bird measured three feet, which was, proba- 
bly, about one-half of its length. The hawk evidently seized 
the snake when he was partly in his hole and was unable to 
draw him out, and when found, the serpent was endeavoring 
to convince the would-be-capturer that “it is a poor rule 
that don’t work both ways.” This was the adult Red-tailed 
dawk. 
In proeuring food for their young they frequently act in 
concert, and if, perchance, they spy a squirrel on a tree one 
will dive at it while the other poises itself ready to seize it 
if it dodges to the other side to evade the grasp of the first 
hawk. From the two there is no escape. Grasping it firmly 
by the neck the assailant practicably demonstrates the pos- 
sibility of garroting its victim, when the ill-fated squirrel is 
carried to the eyry, and torn in pieces to satiate the cravings 
of their rapacious young. I was informed by one of my 
collectors that he saw a mink taken in that way by a Red- 
tailed Hawk, and carried off, although squealing piteously, 
and vainly endeavoring to extricate himself from the fatal 
grasp of its cruel talons. 
For hours it may be seen sitting in the top of some tree, 
either sunning itself or watching for game, and woe be to 
the rabbit, sécu bird, or mouse, that attracts his keen 
eye. In sailing over fields, if it discovers game, it will 
either grasp it by a side stroke, or check its speed and 
alight on a tree, if near, where it can watch its motions, 
when with wings almost closed it will dart upon its prey 
with unerring aim. 
When wontiled. like all rapacious birds, it will turn on 
its baek and defend itself with its claws and bill, grasping 
à stick presented to it so firmly as to be raised ien the 
ground and carried some distance before relinquishing its 
hold. An instance was related to me illustrating the 
Strength and tenacity of its grasp. A sportsman . having 

