The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-01-26
FEATHERED HUNTERS.
Their Quarry Among the Swift
est Flyers of the Air.


any other exists in the shadow of
DEATH" The time-honored expression
is not used figuratively alone in the case
of the bird, for it is literally often shad-
owed by death in the form of the pred
atory hawk. Many members of the
hawk family pass to the far north to
breed. There they tarry and hunt, de-
laying their southern journeyings until
the great tide of migration of the other
birds set in toward the southland.
In this season the hardy native spar
rows, the open-water fowl and the birds
of the swamp stretches are making
their way toward their warm winter re-
sorts. The migrations of the birds, for
some reason unknown to the scientists,
take the form of lines. The feathered
creatures will pass by the thousands on
straight north and south line not more
than mile wide. Then there will be u
stretch of country miles in extent where
but few birds are to be seen, although
the food prospects are as promising as
in the grass and water stretches along
which the birds are passing in such i'm
mense focks.
At this season of the year anyone
who wishes to witness some of the dark
tragedies of bird life need do nothing
more than seek out one of these migra-
tion lines and there with an opera glass
follow the evolutions of some big bird
of prey which is always certain to be
present within the field of vision.
Take, for instance, q stretch of the
Illinois or the Kankakee river; follow
the bank for a mile and there will be
witnessed almost certainly happening
in falconry which will render tame the
reading of some of the old-time stories
of this sport of kings" In European
falconry the quarry was usually a
heron, Along the Illinois river the prey
will be swift-winged widgeon or an
arrowy-fighted teal.
The huntsman is the peregrine falcon
who loves duck meat above all other
food. This hawk gets its name from its
travelling proclivities, 1t Is found in all
parts of the world, in small numbers,
however, and the bird of Asia differs
con strikes the duck when in full fight
with its talons extended and its feet
thrust forward. The chase is cruelty in
teresting. The duck attempts to zigzag,
but the extreme rapidity of it's course
renders this difficult. The hawk with
strong wing beats comes nearer and
nearer. There is half whistle, half
scream of triumph. and the talons sink
deep into the back of the quarry, which
is borne to the nearest point of land,
there to be torn to fragments by the
powerful beak of the enemy.
The hunting habits of the marsh
hawk do not present as thrilling spec
tacle as do those of the peregrine fall
con, but its method of beating up" its
prey is picturesque to degree. The
marsh hawk has an impartial taste. A
jack snipe, field mouse or Virginia
rail are alike pleasant to his palate,
The bird seeks out a stretch Of cauntry
where in different places any one of
these little creatures may be found.
The hawk flies leisurely over the tops
of the tall, dried grass and reeds in the
rails retreats, hoping that the mere
knowledge of his presence will cause
the starting into flight Of one of the
bird innocents. The marsh hawk can
give lessons In the starting up of game
to any of the pheasant hunters of Great
Britain, and when the quarry is once
started the hawk, unlike some British
sportsmen, never misses its aim. The
marsh hawk hunting over stretch of
gray waste land adds life and beauty
to the scene. 1t kills enough harmful
mice to pay for the game it kills, but its
race Is passing away because of the
wantonness of hunters, who grudge the
marsh hawk its dinner. though there
may fall to the guns dinners for score.
The pigeon hawk, q common hawk in
the vicinity of Chicago, is so called be-
cause its flight and form resemble that
of the pigeon, and not because it is par
ticularly fond of pigeons as food, The
bird is no larger than the ordinary tame
pigeon, and yet when it does pick out
one of these birds as delectable bit 1t
strikes 1t down with ease and has been
known to carry the quarry some dis
tance. A Rogers Park carrier pigeon
fancier was watching for the return of
one of his birds from long fight. 1t
came in sight apparently with another
bird behind it. The bird in the rear
proved to be q pigeon hawk, and it
struck down the homing pigeon at the
very doorstep of it's owner. One of
these small hawks entered the pigeon
loft of Highland Park fancier, and
there wantonly killed three or four
birds, coptenting itself with eating one.
A number of heavy bodied birds from
DR.. F. NJ. ingalls, Highland Park cote
went foraging recently in field at
some distance. A pigeon hawk appeared
over the scene of the feeding and all
the birds rose wildly. The hawk dashed
Into the middle of the flock and struck
down two, one to the right and one to
the left, more quickly than It takes to
tell the story.
The small birds have their foes as we'll
as have the larger ones. The sparrow
hawk picks up sparrows, larks, war
blers and ffnehes. The coopers' hawk
dearly loves quail dinner, and others
of the taloned tribe help to bring ter
ror and more than one occasional death
into the songsters' ranks.-Chicago
Chronicle.
People Who sharpen Their Teeth.
Recent studies of The Kaders, race
of short, dark-skinned, curly-haired ma
tives living in the Anamalai hills OF
southern India, show that they pos