The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-26
BIRDS FIGHT TO THE DEATH
a Terrific Encounter Between
Sparrows on a Church Roof.

The Conflict Witnessed by n Group
OF Men aud BOys-TwO Female BIZ
peds ~ Mourners A YOracious
Hawk Driven Away i'm Pain.
A dozen or more men and boys were IN
tcrcsted witnesses Of a desperate fight
between two sparrows yesterday Battles
between birds OF the species are not at all
uncommon. The sparrow is probably the
most belligerent and plucky of all Of the
members Of the feathered family. not
withstandinR his diminuJiveness-
This encounter was one that for pun
ishment given and received and determi-
nation shown, is rarely equaled. Two fe-
male sparrOws. evidently the mates OF
the combatants were perched nearby,
and BY their capers apparently coached
and urged to their utmost efforts their
respective champions
To add % the interest and oddity Of
this occurrence Il took place on the roof
Of a church. a queer place for such Vi
cious conflict. When the tight was over
the two combatants. their bills locked,
their feathers rufIied and dirty. and their
heads sore and bloody. lay dead on the
step Of the temple where better things
than fighting and killing are taught.
The battle lasted for nearly an hour.
While the birds firmly clinChed. were tax
ing one Of many falls from the roof Of
the church 10 the hard pavement below,
a distance Of fully seventy-ive feet.
huge hawk SCARED to the pinnacle Of the
steeple and seated himself 70 gloat over
the bloody scene Hawks and sparrOws
are deadly enemies at best This big fell
low perhaps thought there was feast in
store for him as he saw the struggling
rnidgets tear each others flesh. But his
ecstacy was shOrt-lived. When the spar
rows had recovered from the effects Of
the Jolt they got by a hard tumble. they
aupareutly discovered him and instead
Of returning 10 the spot on the roof that
they seemingly had mutually agreed upon
as a battle-ground. both made straight for
the hawk and attacked him with all OF
the vigor that was left IN their tired lit
tie bodies The hawk made no pretense
20 Withstand their onslaught He darted
of with the sparrows in pursuit. The
hawk few at a rapid rate, but the little
birds were right upon him. lodging from
one side 10 the other. under and over him
and pecking him with all their might.
They followed him probably thousand
feet Then they left him and side 10y
side. returned 10 the church roof Mean
while the two female sparrows remained
In the places they had chosen 20 witness
The duel between their heroes
The tiny birds after a short breathing
sr.eu. set % a noisy twittering. and be
gan dancing around each other Ike g
pair Of boxers in prize ring. They were
snarrfnQ for an opening. as Il We're Sud
denly they went together. locked bills
and took another fall TO the pavement
This mode 81 warfare was pursued
throughout the battle. The birds would
take tumble. then return 70 the church
roof. clinch. drag each other to the edge
and deliberately tumble of They would
clasp their wings tightly 10 the body
and make absolutely no effort TO aver
the shock coming from contact win IN
bricks 81 the pavement below Ever
time they struck II seemed that ever,
bone in them would be broken They mus
have repeated this performance twent,
times They seemed 10 be made Of rub
Der and not C. have sense Of pain
This terrific warfare lasted for almos
an incredible length Of time but II final!
came 10 an end. Toward the close Of IN
battle IT was only with a decided effor
that the birds could regain the root
throughout the fight IL was plain ina
the object Of each of the birds was Z
Nm the other by "a fall on the last De
scent the birds struck the sharp edge q
the Curbiug. rolled into the concrete Eut
ter aud law mOtiOuiess. The spectator
waited s0r them 10 rise again. but the en-
had come. on examination il was toun
that both were dead Their bills were st
locked. but parted easily when the bird
were picked up.
When the men and boys who watche
the fight approached the hfeless llttl
fighters the female spsrrows came tut
tering down and set up d lively tWitterin
and chipping. One man suggested thu
the crowd move back and see what N
female birdie would do. AS soon as tn
party withdrew. the birds approache
their dead mates. and picked at them 10
fully two minutes. They could not arOus
them, and stood silent for a moment