Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-08-01
SAVED BY HIS SWEETHEART.
A Robin Redbreast's Plucky Fight with .
Sparrow Hawk.

A Robin Redbreasts Plucky Fight with .
Sparrow Hawk.
A large, sprightly robin. with the
brilliant red breast of a male, alighted
on the swaying top of tall, ragged
hemlock that stands down back of the
post Office and began to sing plain
tive, thoughtful song to a duller-colored
bird across the road on the lower limb
of maple, says Seaberry settlement
correspondent.
A brown bird with long, keen wings
and hateful speed flew along close to
the briars along the bank behind the
unconscious singer. With a sharp
sswerve he rose up, and then the sweet
heart across the road piped shrill
note of alarm and warning just in time.
The lover dived down. turned sharp
and escaped the little sparrow-hawk's
'talons and more cruel bill.
But the hawk was not going to be
cheated out of a sweet meal thus. He,
too, turned and pressed close after the
fleeing robin. 1t looked as if the robin
had sung his last song when the hawk
cut off a corner and came in not two
feet behind the robin, peeping in eager
ness for prey.
The robin is timid bird, and good
pnatured one. He fears the blackbirds,
and hops away from bullying spar
row; red squirrels are a menace to his
life, while cats and hawks drive him
wildly away in fear. But there comes
"A time when robin, pressed hard for
life, or when his home is in great dan
ger, will fight as few straight-billed
birds can fight, and drives a coward
bird before him or kills a brave one
So it was with this one.
Pressed close by fierce pursuer,
with death and nothing beyond, but
everything to live for, he suddenly
turned on his enemy and struck at him.
Struck full in the breast the surprised
hawk tumbled over backward and fell
to the ground. Again the robin struck
him on the back before the hawk real
lied what had happened; then he
turned and the two faced each other.
The robin had lost his appearance of
fear and the hawk showed pain and
fear Still he attacked the robin
again. 81
The hawk was practiced fighter.
His training had all led that way. No
bird, unless surprised and suddenly
wounded, yields without fight.
Long combats with agile red squirrels,
blue Jays, kingbirds and lesser ones, had
given him the skill which only prac-
tice can give. The robins life had been
different. 1t had been a peaceful
search for insects and life of song,
nor had nature fitted him with such
weapons as his opponent had on foot
and head; still the straight bill was a
good weapon. EsbEElFs EstG W y
Three times the two tackled each
other. The robins breast became red
der yet with blood. The hawk had
lost an eye The robins tongue was
bleeding and the hawks breast was
Scared deep by the robins first as
sault. The robin was the weaker and
the test was longer than he could
stand, but he could not escape, for to
turn to flee would be only to bring the
other onto his back, so he fought on
desperately.
The fourth tackle he lost his hold
and was sinking back. pressed down by
the hawks greater weight and supe-
rior strength. 1t looked darker then
for him. So thought the sweetheart on
the maple limb. She saw her lover
fight, and hoped along the limb and
back again, leaning forward eagerly
and chirping encouragement to him.
Then, when the robin began to weaken,
she sprang from the limb and lowered
over the two, chirping fearfully.
fla -rnhip cin nj ho o1r
hausted to fall an easy prey to the
hawk, she dived down straight as ever
a hawk dived, and struck the victor
between the wings in the back. Itwas
a death-blow, and when she and her
lover sat on the maple limb side by
side blood was on her bill, while the
hawk lay dead, with broken back, to
be picked up later by the taxidermist.
IN. Y. Sun.