The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-05
ATTACKED A HAWK.

A Pair Of Humming- Birds that Defender
Brood of Chickens.
Hiram G. Judson, of Paradise valley, Pa
became interested one Sunday this summe,
says the New York Sun, in the movement
of pair of humming- birds that were suck
ing sweets from the blossoms of honey
suckle vine that trailed up the side of tn
house. He was leaning out of window
few feet from where the tiny birds wer
darting from flower to flower, when tn
stiffness was broken by the loud squawk o
a mother hen who had been scratching
around rosebush with her brood 0
chickens short distance away. The littl
feathered honey gatherers, whose mes
hung from the limb of spruce tree in tn
yard, paid no attention to the hens warn.
ing squall, buzzing here and there amon@
the mass of hnneysuckles, and slipping away
as though they were used to that kind of {
noise.
Suddenly a large hen-hawk swoopei
down. brushed the edge of the rosebush
with it's right wing. and clawed up one OF
the chickens in twinkling Then the
mother hen gave vent to another startled
squall, flew at the hawk, and tore out few
feathers. At this the humminR- birds shot
away AlOAA tno NoueybuckIo Vine anu WeOl
buzzinR past the window like two bullets
from gun, and the next thing MIR. Judson
saw of them they were striking the hawk on
each side Of its head with their pointed lit
tie bills.
The big bird had risen several feet above
the ground and was bothered in its fight
by some overhanginR limbs, when the hum
ming birds darted atits head, while the
chicken in its claws was peepino at the top
of its voice, and the old hen was futtering
around the yard in great distress, squalling
as hard as she could, and vainly trying to
fly up to the bold chicken thief.
When the tiny fighters first hit the hawk
the chicken and worked itself loose from
the mass of twigs above its wings. As it
arose the fierce little birds repeatedly dart
ed viciously at its head, hitting the mark at
every dart. They fought it 80 fast and hard
that the hawk soon became bewildered,
seemingly not knowing which way to 20.
Instead of soaring aloft to great height or
sailing away to the forest on the hillside,
the big bird tried to get beyond the reach
of the sharp beaks of the spunky little tor
mentors by flying back and forth over the
farm buildings. The humminz birds had
no mercy on the hawk, and kept darting at
his head till it screamed.
Among the topmost branches of q tall elm
tree in one of Mr.. Judson's meadows pair
Of king birds had been Watching out for
hawks and crows during the long summer
days. Their nest was in the top Of the elm,
and thu female was sitting at the time. No
sooner had the hawk screamed than the
male king bird sailed from his lofty perch,
gave vent to series Of shrill cries, and few
to point directly above the hawk. Then
it dived like fash and struck the big bird
on the back, rising in an instant and doing
the same thing again. The hawk had been
on the move all the time, but the king birds
VII vaSNf AAk nMEwN SnA>
and just as the king bird made its third
dive the chicken thief started on bee line
for the woods, and the humming- birds shot
back to the yard and went out of sight in
the spruce tree. The pugnacious king bird
chased the cowardly hawk clear to the edge
OF the woodland, striking 1t number Of
times on the way. Then it sailed back to
the tall elm, and in few minutes the hum
ming birds were around the honeysuckle
bush again, and the old hen was cfuckinp
around with one less chickrn than she was
scratching for when the feathered warfare
began.