No, 21, PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE. 257 
clusively as they do, it is to be presumed that they destroy a con- 
siderable number of beneficial kinds, as well as spiders, which they 
find in the same localities as the grasshoppers. However, examina- 
tion of theiz stomach contents shows the number to be very small, 
compared with that of the noxious species that it is hardly worth 
considering.” 
“After the severe frosts of autumn and in winter, when insect life 
is at its lowest ebb, the Sparrow Hawks devote more time to the cap- 
ture of mice and small birds. As a rule, the birds which they capture 
at this time are ground dwelling species, which simulate the move- 
ments of mice by running in or about the dry grass and weeds. 
They are mostly sparrows, more or less seed-eating, and hence not 
among the species most beneficial to the agriculturist. At this sea- 
son it is common to see Sparrow Hawks sitting on the poles over 
hay stacks or stationed where they can command a good view of the 
surroundings of a hay mow or grain crib, ready at any moment to 
drop upon the mouse which is unfortunate enough to show itself. 
In this way they manage to destroy a vast number of mice during the 
colder months.” 
The following is an extract from a letter from W. P. McGlothlin, 
of Dayton, Washington: “There is a small hawk here called the 
Sparrow Hawk. It comes about the Ist of March and leaves with 
its young about August Ist. On their arrival they are in large flocks 
and seem very hungry. I have had a number follow my team all day 
long and even alight for a moment on the plow beam. When a 
mouse was unearthed it was captured in an instant and quickly 
killed. The hawks seem to know just when their victims are dead. 
They settle on something suitable to their fancy and commence 
eating the eyes and then soon finish. For two weeks this mouse 
catching goes on. I have sometimes seen them chase and catch 
smal] birds.” (Bull. No. 3, Hawks and Owls, by Dr. A. K. Fisher, 
1893.) 
When breeding, the Sparrow Hawk has been known to capture 
young ehickens; their depredations, however, in this direction are 
not worthy of consideration when compared with the great benefits 
the hawks do by destroying injurious insects and mice. 
17 B.--21--95 
