184 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 
pings of beaks, which compels him in terror for his eyes, to 
retreat to his hole. 
It is said that some Spanish gentlemen, who were in New 
York at the time of the death of General Taylor, attributed 
this untimely event to the fear and anxieties growing out of 
a prospect of a collision with the terrible power of Spain ! 
It is for much the same reason that our friend Jay is said to 
attribute the nocturnal habits of Raccoons, Wildcats, Op- 
possums, Owls, &c., to their apprehension of his valorous vig- 
ilance by daylight. Be the facts of the case what thej 
may, no one of these gentry, nor snake, nor mink, nor weasel, 
can make its appearance without being beset by the obstrep- 
erous screams of this audacious knave. Nor does he confine 
his operations to the defence of his foraging ground from 
these depredators, from whom he has little to fear of personal 
danger on account of his superior activity. But he even, 
sometimes, dares assail the lightning-winged and lordly 
Hawk. These affairs are very characteristic and very amus- 
ing, and I have frequently witnessed them. If our friends 
happen to be in the open ground and the warning cry of 
"the Hawk is coming," spreads startling through the fields 
among the feathered people, the foremost in the scattering 
flight, they dart into the lowest thicket, or skulk beneath the 
grass and weeds, until the dreaded tyrant, sweeping past on 
overcoming wings, plunges with some shrieking victim in his 
talons, into the neighboring forest to tear it at his ease. 
Now, one after one, these valiant knights appear, shaking 
themselves while they crawl forth as if they would scatter 
all foul imputation on the air. Now a timid Ja-ay ! is heard. 
Then another joins the modest cry, and another yet more 
boldly, until the reveille is fairly sounded. All the wood at 
once is ringing with the alarm, and now our knaves are in 
their glory. They gather about the bloody tyrant, with wild, 
besieging shrieks, but he is feasting, and cannot deign to no- 
tice, now, the noise. They grow more bold with impunity, 
and all the small birds for a mile round, are gathered there 
