OUR HOME BIRDS. 
195 
failed to return at night to his favorite resort behind 
the window-shutter. His courageous disposition often 
amused the family, as he would sail off from his 
stand and fall on the back of a tame duck, which, 
setting up a loud quack, would waddle off in great 
alarm with the hawk sticking to her. 
“ ‘ But, as has often happened to adventurers of a 
similar spirit, his audacity cost him his life. A hen 
and her brood chanced to attract his notice, and he 
flew to secure one of the chickens, but met one whose 
parental affection inspired her with a courage greater 
than his own. The conflict, which was severe, ended 
the adventures of poor Nero.’ ” 
“ I wish Patrick could hear all that,” said Clara 
when the account of the sparrow-hawk was finished. 
“ I think hawks are nice, instead of being horrid.” 
“ I am afraid you would change your mind,” re- 
plied Miss Harson, “ if they ate your chickens ; and 
I am quite sure that we could not make Patrick 
change his. But there are more hawks to be con- 
sidered yet, and among these the night-hawk is per- 
haps the best known. This bird makes his appear- 
ance in Pennsylvania about the last of April, and 
probably derives his name from his habit of flying 
chiefly in the evening. For this reason he is called 
a bat in the Southern States. 
“ ‘ The night-hawk is a bird of strong and vigorous 
