OCR Text |
Show CROWS BATTLE WITH HAWK. Midair Conflict in Which Numbers Vanquish and Kill the Prowler. Druid Hill Park, near Superintendent Superintend-ent Cassell's residence, was the scene on Sunday of one of the fiercest battles bat-tles ever fought between crows on the one side and a large chicken hawk on the other, and, perhaps, the only battle of Its kind in which the hawk suffered defeat, says the Baltimor Sun. It is a well-known fact that the re latlons between hawks and crows havi been strained perhaps since creation, hawks neglecting no opportunity tc destroy young crows before they leave the nests. Representatives of the two species of birds rarely meet without s battle. They usually fight in midair This is no doubt the reason why the hawk has won so many victories. Fully twelve or fifteen crows took part in Sunday's battle. The hawk was attacked in midair while hovering hover-ing over a crow's ne.it. The onslaught made him furious and he retaliated by swooping down on the tree in which the nest was built. The crows were determined to drive off the enemy en-emy and made a systematic and concerted con-certed onslaught on the intruder. First one and then another would drive at him and in ti short time the ground under the tree was strewn with feathers. The hawk fought with bill and claws, while the crows usod only their bills. The fight became so hot that the hawk was compelled to leave the tree and, being too exhausted to fly, sank to the ground. There he made a final stand and the battle was an interesting one, passengers on the Emory drove cars being among the spectators. First on-: crow and then another would give the hawk a dig with its bill and then jump back to escape the savage plunges of the hawk. The hawk fought as long as he could stand on his feet. Even while lying on his side or back he kept up the struggle. Tiie crows, however, were relentless, and kept on pecking away until their adversary fell (lead. They then flew off a considerable distance and patched up their cuts and bruises as best they could. X'of a single one of their number was killed. |