THE AMERICAN" SPARROW-HAWK. 
91 
little hunter rises in the air, describes a few circles, moves on directly, 
balances itself steadily by a tremulous motion of its wings, darts towards the 
earth, but, as if disappointed, checks its course, reascends and proceeds. 
Some unlucky Finch crosses the field beneath it. The Hawk has marked it, 
and, anxious to secure its prize, sweeps after it ; the chase is soon ended, for 
the poor affrighted and panting bird becomes the prey of the ruthless pur- 
suer, who, unconscious of wrong, carries it off to some elevated branch of a 
tall tree, plucks it neatly, tears the flesh asunder, and having eaten all that 
it can pick, allows the skeleton and wings to fall to the ground, where they 
may apprise the traveller that a murder has been committed. 
Thu's, reader, are the winter months spent by this little marauder. When 
spring returns to enliven the earth, each male bird seeks for its mate, whose 
coyness. is not less innocent than that of the gentle dove. Pursued from 
place to place, the female at length yields to the importunity of her dear 
tormentor, when side by side they sail, screaming aloud their love notes, 
which, if not musical, are doubtless at least delightful to the parties concerned. 
With tremulous wings they search for a place in which to deposit their eggs 
secure from danger, and now they have found it. 
On that tall mouldering headless trunk, the Hawks have alighted side by 
side. See how they caress each other ! Mark ! The female enters the 
deserted Woodpecker’s hole, where she remains some time measuring its 
breadth and depth. Now she appears, exultingly calls her mate, and tells 
him there could not be a fitter place. Full of joy they gambol through the 
air, chase all intruders away, watch the G-rakles and other birds' to which the 
hole might be equally pleasing, and so pass the time, until the female has 
deposited her eggs, six, perhaps even seven in number, round, and beautifully 
spotted. The birds sit alternately, each feeding the other and watching with 
silent care. After awhile the young appear, covered with white down. 
They grow apace, and now are ready to go abroad, when their parents entice 
them forth. Some launch into the air at once, others, not so strong, now 
and then fall to the ground ; but all continue to be well provided with food, 
until they are able to shift for themselves. Together they search for grass- 
hoppers, crickets, and such young birds as, less powerful than themselves, 
fall an easy prey. The family still resort to the same field, each bird making 
choice of a stand, the top of a tree, or that of the great mullein. At times 
they remove to the ground, then fly off in a body, separate, and again betake 
themselves to their stands. Their strength increases, their flight improves, 
and the field-mouse seldom gains her retreat before the little Falcon secures 
it for a meal. 
The trees, of late so richly green, now disclose the fading tints of autumn ; 
the cricket becomes mute, the grasshopper withers on the fence, the mouse 
