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 the canoe cushion 
which I flung at it, it pounced on its prey without a 
^ moment’s hesitation. ||_JI could not see exactly what ensued 
for both birds were hidden ©nmeiwhat by the grass, but there 
was the usual agonized 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 went only a few rods 
before coming to the ground again, once more among thick 
grass. I followed ana 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 from the base of the neck next the breast. The 
wound seemed trifling but the bird died in my hand within 
the space of a few minutes, although it seemed little hurt 
at first and pecked my hand bravely. The Hawk flew straight 
away across the river and out of sight over Ripley’s Hill. 
^During the row to Ball’s Hill I saw a Kingfisher— 
the first for some time — a Black-billed Cuckoo, and 
thirty or forty Red-wings, the last feeding on wild rice 
on the island just below the tent. No birds were singing 
anywhere, either along the river or in my woods. I saw a 
Carolina Dove crossing Benson's field late in the afternoon. 
Hi 
