AN AERIAL CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 54, 2 July 1887, Page 3 (Supplement)

AN AERIAL CONTEST.

Desperate Encounter Between _. Chicken Hawk and Sparrows.

A representative of bhe " Banner " was a wibness to a mosb extraordinary mid-air battie bebween a large-sized chicken hawk and a score of English sparrows recently. While walking along Gambier-stfeeb, in fronb of bhe residence of Mr C. C. Cooper, ■bhe reporter had his abbenbion abbracbed by an unusual commotion among bhe sparrows, who were massed in bhe top of a pine tree. Suddenly a chicken hawk spread its wings and rose from tho ground. As it did so bha combative sparrows made a general abtack upon bhe despoiler of poultry-yards, anii so fierce was bhe onslaught thab bhe bird of j prey was beaben to the earth, leaving the air filled with flying feathers. The screeching of the hawk and the wild twittering of the sparrows added to the excitement of the contest. A second time the hawk essayed to escape, but again was attacked and driven back. At this moment the hawk appeared to have its attention attracted to the presence of the newspaper man, and made a bold dash for liberty.. It rose about four feet in the air and flew toward the residence of Mrs W. B. Russell, hotly pursued by the sparrows.. In a second there was a crash of glass and a commotion followed in the room where Mrs Russell Was ab dinhe'r. Both the ladies were somewhat frightened by the breaking of the window-pane and sudden advent of the huge bird, which fluttered across the room and sank to the floor beneath a chair. The reporter, by this time thoroughly interested in tho episode, made his appearance at the door, arid being admitted, captured the bird of prey. His sympathies being with the naturalised representatives of the feathered bribe, he deliberabely, and wibh malice aforebhoughb, seized the hawk, and going inbo bhe yard, wrung ibs neck from bhe body, and bhus rendered it hors da combat. ' _■■•*, , J

The birds seemed to ra_l-.e __.4ti-_.--_v for one cock-sparrow, bolder than the rest, alighted Upon the ground, cautiously hopping about the dead hawk, ahd after pecking it with his bill, flew off to join its companions, and no doubt a jubilee was held in honour of the vanquishing of their foe. 7 7" ■ •.' . - "■''''

A subsequent examination of the hawk showed that it was a cripple, the right leg having been broken midway between the joint ahd the talon. The wound was an old one, the dismembered portion hanging by a dried tendon. The probabilities are that his hawk-hip had been caught in asteel trap while encroaching, upon &. barnyard.