Reptile Seemed to Have Small Chance Against the Little though Fierce Birds.
    We soon found that there were two sparrow-hawks about, and by the 7th of March it seemed evident that they were mated and were considering the locality as a summer residence.
    We now saw them almost daily, and the perfect domestic harmony, indeed I should say affection, shown between them, and the tender care and gallantry on the part of the male, would seem to suggest a high plane of evolution, and reminds one again that all the world is kin. Indeed, what have we of altruism which may not have its beginning in the humblest creature?
    In accord with history and tradition the male was chief hunter, but very often shared the game with his mate after “killing.” Rushing to the back window, attracted by a loud call of killee, killee, killee, killee, we would frequently see him returning from the hunt with a rat, a mouse, or an English sparrow, and it must be confessed that even small song-birds were not strickly prohibited under his liberal interpretation of the law. In a moment the female would light on a perch nearby, whereupon the male would immediately remove the mouse from his talons, with which the prey is almost always carried, and politely deliver it to his mate from his beak.
    One bright, sunny afternoon there was an unusually excited call heard. It seemed that a garter-snake had glided forth from its hiding place to enjoy the early spring warmth, a circumstance which proved more fortunate for the “early bird” than for the early snake. It was most picturesque and exciting even to a spectator to see this fierce little bird, slightly smaller than a flicker, flying about from tree to tree as if to search of a more favorable stand, struggling with his writhing prey. When the snake had been decapitated and several inches of its length devoured, it seemed sufficiently subdued to be offered to the mate, although it was still wriggling when she accepted the offering. She ate it with evident relish, holding it firmly on the branch under her foot while she pulled off small pieces. When the tail was reached it became very difficult to hold this slender, tapering morsel.-S. Harmsted Chubb in Scibner’s.
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