Beautiful snowflakes are softly falling
Like down from an angel’s wings,
Beautiful snowflakes are softly falling
While the snow bird merrily sings.
Beautiful snowflakes are softly falling,
From the clouds they come whirling down,
Like the dust from the floor of a crystal palace,
And cover the frozen ground.
Beautiful snowflakes are softly falling,
Covering the ground with white;
The flowers of summer have withered and faded,
The robin has taken his flight.
Beautiful snowflakes are softly falling,
They bring joy to young and old;
Beautiful-snowflakes are watching and waiting
For the Christmas chimes to toll.
Beautiful snowflakes are softly falling
Like down from an angel’s wings,
Beautiful snowflakes are softly falling
While the snow bird merrily sings.
—J. Frank Richman.
[Illustration: SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.
(Accipiter velox).]
THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.
(_Accipiter velox._)
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a hardy and courageous bird with an extended
range, covering North America as far south as Panama. Unlike the larger
number of birds, it breeds throughout its range, even as far north as
the Arctic circle. In the fall months it passes over the middle states
in large numbers. One writer says that he observed several hundred
during a single day’s tramp, the majority flying very high in the air.
In the spring, usually in March and April, the same scene is repeated
during their northward flight.
Much of the bad repute in which the hawks are held is due to the
depredations of the Sharp-shinned and its sister species the Cooper’s
and goshawks. All these feed, to a great extent, upon the smaller birds,
grouse and poultry. The smaller mammals, such as the troublesome field
rodents, form a much smaller proportion of their food than is the case
with the other hawks.
Dr. A. K. Fisher, speaking of the Sharp-shin, says: “Little can be said
in favor of this hawk, although its daring, courage and impudence are to
be admired. A score of valuable species suffer because they belong to a
class which includes two or three noxious kinds. However, like most
villains, it has at least one redeeming quality, and that is its
fondness for the English sparrow, our imported bird nuisance. This Hawk
is gradually learning that there is a never-failing supply of food for
it in the larger towns and cities, and it is not uncommon in Central
Park, New York, all through the winter, where the writer has witnessed
it chasing sparrows.”
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is brave and full of dash and spirit. It does not
hesitate to attack birds fully as large as itself and in one instance it
was known to strike down a night heron, which obtained its liberty only
because its discordant squawks so disconcerted its ordinarily cool and
collected enemy that it was frightened away. Even though its wings are
short and seemingly not fitted for rapid progress, its flight, when in
the pursuit of prey, is very swift and direct. “No matter which way the
selected victim may turn and double, his untiring pursuer is equally
prompt, and only rarely will it miss capturing its quarry. Once struck,
death fortunately follows quickly, as it fairly transfixes its victim’s
vitals with its long and sharp talons.”
Audubon well describes the habits of this bird. He says: “While in
search of prey, the Sharp-shinned Hawk passes over the country, now at a
moderate height, now so close over the land, in so swift a manner that,
although your eye has marked it, you feel surprised that the very next
moment it has dashed off and is far away. In fact, it is usually seen
when least expected and almost always but for a few moments, unless when
it has procured some prey and is engaged in feeding upon it. The kind of
vacillation or wavering with which it moves through the air appears
perfectly adapted to its wants; for it undoubtedly enables this little
warrior to watch and to see at a single quick glance of its keen eyes
every object, whether to the right or to the left, as it pursues its
course. It advances by sudden dashes, as if impetuosity of movement were
essential to its nature, and pounces upon and strikes such objects as
best suit its appetite, but so very suddenly that it appears quite
hopeless for any of them to try to escape.”
The nest of this species is usually built in dense hemlock or other
cone-bearing trees, though a deciduous tree is sometimes selected. It
prefers also a site not more than twenty to forty feet from the ground.
It is said that the nest is sometimes built in the crevices of cliffs or
in hollow trees. This may be the case in Arctic regions, but it is not
the usual habit of the bird within the borders of the United States. The
nests are very large, as compared with the size of the bird, varying in
diameter from twenty to thirty inches, outside measurement. The walls
are usually constructed with twigs and lined with smaller ones and
strips of the fibrous inner bark of coniferous trees. Instances have
been reported in which the walls were nearly eight inches in thickness.
As a rule the Sharp-shinned Hawk does not defend its nest from the
attack of intruders. There are, however, a few instances recorded in
which both the male and female birds fought a person who was climbing to
their nest, by repeatedly striking at the intruder.
As befits a bird that possesses such a character as that of the
Sharp-shinned Hawk, it is practically a voiceless bird and seldom utters
a sound except when its nest is approached. At such times its cries have
been described as like those of a flicker.