The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-08-11
HAWKS. CROWS AND SNAKE.
Queer Scene Witnessed BY . Penn
sylvania Farmer.

sylvania Farmer.
The startled cries Of pair OF bob
olinks attracted the attention OF
Farmer Caleb j. Wardell, of Clifford
Township, Penn, TO thornbush in
his meadow one morning recently.
The birds were fitting and squalling
around the bush rs though they were
alarmed by cat skulkihg in the tall
timothy near by, and Mr.. Wardell,
who takes particular pains to protect
all the song birds on his farm, sprang
over the fence, ran toward the spot,
and yelled, Scat! scat !" Mt the top
OF his voice.
As he neared the place he saw that
the bobolinks were diving and squall-
ing mt n blacksnake, whose head was
swaying slowly from side to side
few inches above the top OF the bush.
Presently the blacksnake stretched
up its neck little higher and held
its body persectly motionless for
minute or two. The birds continued
10 squall and dart Mt it furiously, IA
IL TO drive ii away. The snake seemed
to pay no attention to the fierce cries
and violent Fittings Of the bobolinks,
and the next motion it made was to
curve its neck and peer down into the
foliage OF the bush. That infuriated
the birds, and they flew and chirped
at the reptile until il again raised its
head.
This went on for some time, the
bobolinks keeping up constant
squalling aud darting at their enemy.
Then the black snake suddenly drop
ped its head, held it on level with
the top OF the bush for "A moment,
and then shot out viciously Mt the
birds several times with its snout.
1t failed to strike, and Mr.. Wardell,
having seen enough OF the snakes
antics, started to creep through the
grass to kill 1t. He had hardly got
in motion when he saw IA swift shad-
ow on the grass, and the next instant
n large gray hawk shot from the sky
ut the speed of n thunderbolt, seized
the black snake In its claws, and went
sailing leisurely over the meadow,
pointing straight for distant Elk Hill.
The bobolinks chased the friendly
hawk short distance, soon winging
their way back to the bush with songs
OF JOY. Mr.. Wardcll found that the
birds had n nest OF four young ones
in the bush, and that the little things
had not been harmed by the snake.
Tho hawk didn't find smooth sail
ing on its way to the mountain top,
for no sooner had Mr.. Wardell turned
from the thorn bush than he saw
three crows head the big bird of and
drive him back over the meadow. 1t
clung to the squirming snake rising
to great height, and then diving
swiftly to shake of its merciless en-
emies. But the crows kept after 1t
with vengeance sailing aloft and
shooting down whenever the hawk
did the same, and heading 1t of every
time IL undertook to evade their
trcacherous bills. The noisy black
scamps worried the hawA until when
IL was several hundred feet above the
meadow, it dropped the snake and
made for the nearest timber. The
crows pursued il, but Mr.. Wardell,
instead OF paying further attention to
them, watched for the snake to strike
the ground. Ho didn't have chance
to see the reptile drop in the grass,
however, for another hawk, which he
hadn't seen before, divcd from the
sky, caught IL In the air. and sailed of
with it just IA the crows had aban-
doncd their chase OF tho first hawk
and turned back. They spied tho
second hawk and made for IL with
loud cries. but tho feet bird had got
n good start, and it found safety in
the dense woodland.-[New York
Sun.