1892.
Aug. 22
(No 2)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord.- At  3 P.M. I started for Ball's Hill with C.
We had just reached the foot of the slope between the
Buttricks' house and the river when there was a sudden shrill
outcry of bird voices in the big willow by my boat-house
and the next instant a Robin appeared closely pursued by a
Sharp-shinned Hawk. The Robin, a young bird still in the
speckled plumage but with fully developed wings and tail,
flew very slowly and when within ten or twelve feet of us
(for the chase led directly towards us) its wings seemed to fail
it altogether and it fluttered feebly down to the ground
uttering a shrill, squealing cry and evidently fairly overcome
with terror. The Hawk, a larger female and also a young bird
as I could see quite quite plainly, scaled on set wings with  tail
wide spread and although it did not seem to move at
all swiftly it made at least two feet to the Robin's one
and was within a yard of its victim when the latter sought
the earth. Undeterred by my shouts or by [delete]and[/delete] the canoe cushion which
I flung at it it pounced on its prey without a moments
hesitation. I could not see exactly what ensued for both
birds were hidden somewhat by the grass but there was
the usual agonised screaming on the part of the
poor victim and when I reached the spot the Hawk
rose literally at my feet with the Robin clutched
firmly in both feet and started off flapping  heavily.
He only went a few yards before coming to the ground
again, once more among thick grass. I followed and
flushed him directly underfoot a second time but
he left the Robin behind. On picking it up I
found a few feathers  gone from the rump and a little blood
flowing the base of the neck next the breast. The
wound seemed trifling but the bird died in my hand within
[margin]Sharp shin Hawk√√[tick marks]
catches a Robin[/margin]