The Forrest City times., 1903-08-28

perhaps, he continued on his course:
then, coming about with infinite grace,
he bore down upon me again. Back and
forth he circled, "quartering" the coun-
try in way which proved his title to the
name of barrier" All this time his
bright hazel eye was searching every
clump OF weeds, every hollow in the
grass, every twig of the leafless bushes
for sign OF his living prey. Presently
he caught sight of that which he sought
for he checked his onward flight, and for
RI instant hung futtering in the air.
Then lightly he dropped into the grass
where lightning stroke laid low
meadow mouse, whose soft. fat little
body offered scarcely any resistance TO
these talons of rapier steel. The bird
did not fly off with its prey in its claws
as a sharp-shinnod hawk would have
done. nor did he stop to devour the mouse
on the spot, as have often seen marsh
hawk 90; it picked up the little rodent
with its feet, and by series, of long
leaps through the grass it reached
rather more secluded spot. where it be-
gan to tear its victim to pieces.
About a week later, was walking
over the same open country. and again
| saw my old acquaintance the marsh
hawk. This time, however, he was not
alone. for in his company there was
somewhat larger bird, dark lumber
brown on the back, and with reddish
streaks on the head. This was his
mate. and, despite the difference in coll
Grafton, she had the characteristic
white patch on her rump. 1t was the
counting season. and as | was anxious
to see the manner in which the marsh
hawk courted his bride, I hid myself
IN ditch which drained the meadows,
and waited. For an hour. perhaps,
nothing unusal happened. and | had
begun to fear that my patience was not
to be rewarded that Gay. when suddenly
the male bird floated into view, and be-
gan series OF evolutions such as | had
heard of, but never witnessed before.
After circling about as usual, he arose
In the air. stopped" almost to the
ground. rose again, tumbled somewhat
after the manner of a tumbler pigeon
and in this way proceeded for some
distance. zig-zageirg up and down, as
though bereft of his senses And per-
haps he was, for wiser creatures than
marsh hawks do funny things when they
are in love. After doing his acrobatic
turn he sailed away with the same
grace and liehtness which at other
times characterizes his flight.
The nest, which l found in May, was
n ,lNi nA.r e
on the ground near the river. There
were four eggs in it, dull white. about an
inch and three-quarters in length, and
we'll rounded. The next time visited
the nest, the young birds were hatched-
beautiful. bright-eyed little fellows. COW
cred with white down, and with black
bills and yellow legs. At first they knew
no fear, but soon it came to them. as il
does to most wild things, and one day.
when their pin-feathers had started.
they greeted me by throwing themselves
OH their backs and striking at me saw
cgely with their little talons. Their
slender legs flew out as though propeIied
by springs and their little black claws as
sharp as fish-hooks, cut through nv skin
at every stroke. Sometimes | would
take them some beetles or crickets. or q
frog from the neighboring marsh, and
after l had retired to distance thew
would squabble for the food. saueakine
petulantly, as they swallowed mouthfuI
after mouthful
The last time | visited the nest. the
young hawks, instead of waiting to fight
me when approached, leaped from their
home into the surrounding grass. and
hoped away rapidly in every direction
with their long wings raised high in the
air to steady them as they bounced along.
l left them to regain their composure
When | next saw them they were able
TO shift fer themselves. Sometimes they
might be seen alighting upon stakes near
the water. but usually they were skirs-
ming over the open country, making
things warm for the mice and other small
creatures which inhabit the marshes.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNEs