The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-09-24

FN''"N1 huoMh uy hllhk alolA, Mhht
watching for a chance to sweep down-
ward upon the prey.
To the naturalist there are few sights
OF more absorbing interest than TO
watch one Of these noble falcons while
pursuing a chosen victim. Yet Il Is
anything but an easy task TO keep an
eye upon II. In case II extends ~ search
Tor a meal over a large extent Of coun-
try. II. however. the falcon Is hunting
through an open valley the naturalist
mounted on tall tree or building. has
a favorable opportunity 10 watch u,
especially n aided by a powerful held-
glass. Every motion OF the bird may
thus be seen 10 advantage. except per-
haps iis sudden downward dash whom
its quarry Is discovered.
The smallest OF our winged fauna. the
tiny "dieky birds" as our English
friends call them. the sparrows. wrens
and tiny ny oatchers. dread the hand
some and active sparrow hawk az their
most inveterate foe. Almost thrush
like In size. color and easy flight
when not In a hurry thls smallest Of
the noble falcons Is not easily detected
until seen at close quarters. but he Is
almost as sure OF his victim a. are
bis larger relatives
The pigeon hawk. a size largor than
the sparrow hawk. Is equally swift
ferocious and death dealing. still more
dreaded perhaps by the smaller birds
IS the sharp Skinned hawk. H. larger
cousin. the oooper's hawk. b. an active
hunter Of more stable prey. such as
the Wild and tame pigeons. half grown
barnyard fowls. doves. qualls and
grouse.
There Is really little chance 10 escape
from the onset OF these two formidable
huntera Like a swift winged fate. they
seldom come but TO KIN. and the anx-
ious mother bird knows not which OF
her flock will be taken. These hawks.
when not polsing alof. ny silently
through the woods or low over the open
fields and thlckets and their presence
l. seldom suspected until they are right
upon their prey. Then comes a swift
stroke. a clutch OF the long. keen tai.
ons and the KIN" Il as instantaneous
M that OF a rife bullet.
As the undlsputed leader % the noble
falcons. the very prince OF these robber
barons Of the air. We may name the
peregrlne falcon. better known In our
country a. the duck hawk. This dread
ed hunter sights a nock. or a single
bird. Aging 30 high a. 20 preclude its
possible return To- the ground before
he can reach Il. lie then actually dies
downward. adding the tremendous i'm.
petus Of his wings 70 the force OF Erav.
liy. and thus attaining a speed that the
Eye can barely follow.
As he nears the earth he sets nj,
wins and. without checking his speed
alters by a short curve the direction
OF his flight from the vertical 10 the
horizontal Thus sweeping along paral
Vel 20 the earth. with a speed that m,
observer compares with that Of a can,
non ball. he over,akes the ~ iaied duel
Itself one OF the sWifteat OF nlers-
and, with one stroke OF Ia trrribl,
talons. deals the paralyzing blow.
n the duck falls In tn water m,
hawk unless unusually hungry. seldom
cares to regain Il; u on land. he de-
sends TO the repast. feeding only on
certain choice morsels AMI leaving m,
rest TO a less fas,idious appetite In.
iced. most Of the falcons eat only Ger
tain portions Of their prey. and. a. ,
rule. these are by no means such a,
human epleures regard a. the choices
tldblts.
In regard TO the food OF the nohl,
falcons. the department OF agrlcultur,
Al Washington. through the labors n
observers attached TO the division a
ornlthology and mammalogy. has mad,
some interesting reports.
Among the contents OF falcons atom
aehs have been found the remains o
Qualls. snlpes. woodcock. grouse duck
various hnehes and evcn-though 4,
rare instances swallows and swlfts
with now and then king birds an,
purple martins.
That these two last mentioned
known a. exceptionally swim flyers an,
lnveterate hawk fighters. should fal
the victims Of hawks may be aecounte,
Tor only IN one Of two ways-thoy wer
either surprised while az rest by IN
sudden dash OF the falcon or they wer
taken when young. before they IA,
attained full power Of flight No hawl
or eagle. however swlft OF wing. coull
overlake IN FUN nlght such darters a
the swallow. the chimney swift or hi
king bird
The hawks proper. forming a diner
ent group from the falcons. are Tor IN
most part shorter winged. and therefor
slower and moro clumsy. These IN
clude the red tail. the hroad-winged
the red-shouldorod swalnsons hawl
and others They are seldom Qulcl
enough 10 capture birds. or even mice
and must content themselves mainly
with snakes. toads and the less ac,ly
Of the lizards. together with the large
Insects and spiders. Two Of this groul
may be named a. exceptions to this re
mark-the goshawk and the marsl
hawk. The last IA an especially actlv
bird. a. Il must BE- TO capture lie prey
which consists chiefly OF field mice
plovers. snlpes and even al times will
ducks.