FALCONS AND CARACARAS: SPARROW HAWK 195 
to their own small hawk: Grasshopper Hawk would be a more fitting 
term” (1927, p. 3). 
Near Mesilla Park, Professor Merrill reports, the small Hawks are 
not only numerous but so tame as to be almost birds of the dooryard. 
They are resident and breed early, but, as he says, "the young depend 
mainly on the old for food long after they are able to fly well. Their 
begging squeals are heard all day if there are any individuals near. 
While nesting usually in holes and crannies, one pair made a nest in a 
mesquite bush near the college grounds on the mesa and raised three 
young.” 
The little Sparrow Hawks are seen commonly on the electric light 
wires and poles of the college grounds and one pair was discovered by 
Professor Merrill, engaged in an amusing courtship. The female was 
perched on a cross arm of a light pole when the male appeared in air high 
overhead, and hovered there, both birds squealing vociferously. Drop¬ 
ping back behind a mesquite bush he caught a lizard and flew to her with 
it in his beak. But instead of accepting his offering, she ungraciously 
pecked him on the head! “At this he moved away to a safer distance and 
both began the squealing again, at the same time gesticulating wildly 
with their heads and bodies. Gaining courage the male once more 
approached with the lizard. This time the female took it in her bill and 
immediately and coquettishly dropped it to the ground. A true gallant, 
the suitor flew down and picked it up again but flew to the next pole to 
alight. Here he preserved a dignified mien and stern quiet for some 
minutes, when the fickle lady-love ceased her clamor and flew to the 
opposite end of his cross arm. At once he took up cry, alighted beside 
her and offered the lizard again.” This time she readily accepted the 
offering and the suit was won (MS). 
At Taos two nearly grown nestlings brought from their tree to our 
camp by an Indian, when put on a camp-stool and playfully threatened 
with the hand showed their fighting blood amusingly, the little male 
throwing himself back and with raised head striking out with his well 
armed claw in spirited pose. 
At Lake Burford Doctor Wetmore saw one pursuing a Magpie 
through a grove of cedars, striking at it repeatedly. These little falcons, 
he says, “delight in playing with other hawks and were seen darting 
down at Red-tails and Cooper Hawks as they circled about in the air” 
(1920a, p. 399). 
The temerity of the Sparrow Hawks is well illustrated by a case 
reported by Mr. Shorger from Louisiana where they took advantage of a 
forest fire in the long-leafed pines. “The fire drove out both insects, 
small reptiles and rodents, and in spite of the great heat and intense 
black smoke arising from the resinous wood, the birds would not only 
dash past within a few feet of the flames, but would actually alight on 
