Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-03-28

breeds in May in tall trees; the eggs being
grecnish or grHyish tinged, sometimes
clear, sometimes marked.
The sharp-skinned hawk, some twelve
inches long, II about the size Of tho sparrow
hawk. In color II IL very similar TO the
above, ~ also In structure and habits. 1ts
eggs are strongly and heavily blotched with
from those of Cooper's hawk.
These are the only hawks which are
regularly and specially destructive " the
poultry ward.
The large caglc-like ed-tail will some-
times capture a hen or chicken, and un-
qucstionably has sharp appetite for our
little gray rabbit; but IN the main he is a
destroyer of vermin--small quadrupeds
and insects captured In field and meadow.
The flight of this species Is az grand ms that
of the eagle or the turkey buzzard.
Tho rough-legged hawk has been known
meadows in Its low flight mostly in search
Of field mice, and is In every way most
useful. II may generally be distinguished
by Its whitish plumage. In other respects
II bears quito resemblance to the red-tail.
Very similar In size, structure and habit
10 those above described Is the red should
cred hawk. II Is quite common In this
locality, and though a pair reside through
out the year and breed regularly In tho
woods near my buildings, I have never
known them 10 trouble my hens.
Tho famous marsh hawk, which by Its
constant low flight over the meadows, must
be familiar to the most casual observer, IL,
no doubt, a very useful bird. Those de-
structive creatures, our native mice of the
fields and meadows, ere the main items In
its bill OF fare, and for these II searches con-
stantly and most assduously In its notice
ably low flight. Unlike the rest Of tho
hawks, IL makes its nest on the ground. II
4 al ,t..I. To-. ~ a,
large white spot on the rump The male,
which. is often almost white, is very much
smaller than the female.
The famous duck hawk, about cosmopoli-
tan, and n perfect marvel In flight and In
adrotness for capturing its prey, no doubt
docs often take the game and water birds.
In fact, IL not infrequently takes the
wounded or falling bird from the sports.
man, but 80 distant and wary Is II In Its
habits that II may be said to be unknown
In tho poultry yard, and II Is not sufficiently
numerous anywhere to make II an object
Of persecution in behalf Of the sportsman.
Besides 1t is a bird of such note IN history,
having been a special desideration I'm the
days Of hawking, and of such dignified and
daring habits as to merit general respect
and immunity.
Probably The little sparrow hawk is
among MS, by far the most useful of its
kind. Its trim little figure, perched in O
tree by tho waysde or coursing over the
open field, must be known to all. Like the
European kestral, it is especially noticeable
from its elegant and graceful manner o
lowering. Being so generally distributed
over our country, its habit OF nesting in
holes in trees has been quite generally
OBSERVED and widely known.
The name of the fine little hawk !,
misleading, for 1t does not 40 frequently
kill sparrows AS its name would imply
but II is N constant and most voraciou,
destroyer of insects and mischievous little
guadrupeds. Probably no other birt
destroys 30 many grasshoppers. Spare
then, this elegant little falcon. Remember
he Is the farmers faithful friend and
servant. Learn to distinguish him by tn,
black stripes over his crown and down the
sides OF bis face, and always speak good
word for him.