April 7, *93(2) 
A rush 
of^Eohins 
Sparrow 
Hawk 
The young man who came to see me last evening 
counted 37 Robins on the trip to and from Fairhaven yesterday. 
This morning they were in great abundance about our house. 
I saw five, apparently all males, squabbling together in the 
top of an apple tree, making a squealing noise very like that 
of a Robin in the clutches of a. Hawk. During the snow¬ 
storm in the afternoon, several birds visited the bitter¬ 
sweet vine on the shed to feed on the berries. It is evident 
that the bulk of the Robins did not reach here this spring 
until yesterday or the day before. Our summer birds have now 
probably all come and with them, perhaps, some migrants bound 
still further north. 
A pretty little female Sparrow Hawk spent the fore¬ 
noon in our orchard. Perched on the topmost twig of an 
apple tree, her head drawn down between her shoulders, her 
gaze directed steadily towards the ground, she would sit almost 
perfectly motionless for ten or fifteen minutes at a time, 
doubtless watching for mice. I was much interested to 
observe that a dozen or more Sparrows (Juncos, Song and 
Fox Sparrows) which were feeding within a few yards of the 
tree showed not the slightest fear of the Sparrow Hawk, nor 
did the latter once appear to notice them. The Hawk was 
rather shy, taking short flights as I advanced towards her 
and not pe rmitting me to approach much nearer than 70 or 80 
yards. On approaching her perch, she invariably dipped down 
well towards the ground and then shot upwards, dropping her 
ieet and closing her wings at the same instant, performing 
II 
