THE SPARROW HAWK. 69 



With this writer's opinion my own experience to a very great measure coincides, though 

 as I never attempted to train a Sparrow Hawk to falconry, I cannot answer for some of its 

 deficiencies. 



One of these birds afforded an excellent example of the shyness and timidity above men- 

 tioned. Although he was most kindly treated and liberally fed, he used to scream in the most 

 ear-piercing manner when approached, even by the person who generally carried his food. 

 The only companion whose presence he would tolerate, was a little Skye terrier, named Kosy, 

 and the two strangely matched comrades used to execute the most singular gambols together, 

 the dog generally taking the initiative, and persecuting the Hawk until she forced him to fly. 

 The great object of the dog was to catch the Hawk by the wing, while the bird gave his atten- 

 tion to flying at the dog' s throat, hanging on by his claws and boxing her ears with his wings 

 until she was fain to shake him off. Once, Rosy caught the Hawk by his tail, and having the 

 game all her own way, careered round the yard in great exultation, dragging after her the unfor- 

 tunate Hawk, who could not possibly resist or retaliate, and was reduced to scream abjectly 

 for succor. 



Another Sparrow Hawk which I procured for some time was, curiously enough, a most 

 arrant coward, and so far from chasing the little birds, as was his duty, and keeping them 

 from eating the peas and fruit, he allowed them to bully him shamefully, and would run away 

 from a wagtail. The little birds soon learned his incapacity, and the blue titmice used to 

 watch the time when he was fed, and run off with the meat before his eyes. The bird was not 

 a young one when it came into my possession, and had probably been broken in spirit by 

 cruel treatment. 



The credit of the race was, however, better kept up by a Sparrow Hawk that belonged to 

 a lady friend, but it was not taught any artificial accomplishments. The bird took a great 

 fancy to its mistress, and would perch on her shoulder or eat from her hand. But it would 

 permit no other person to touch it, neither would it allow any one to approach its mistress 

 while it was at hand. In such cases it would fly savagely at the fancied foe, and was so deter- 

 mined in its attack upon the ankles, that any one who attempted to cross its path was obliged 

 to fend it off with an umbrella, which it would fight and scold as it was being pushed away. 



It was a terrible thief, and crafty to a degree. Once, having made itself acquainted with 

 the fact that a partridge was hanging in the larder, it hung about until it saw a servant 

 approaching the spot. As soon as she opened the door, the Hawk shot noiselessly over her 

 head, and sat quietly until she had retired. It then proceeded to demolish the partridge. 

 Between this servant and the Hawk there was a deadly feud, owing to a depredation com- 

 mitted by the bird and resented by the servant. A chicken had just been plucked and was 

 lying on the kitchen table, when the Hawk glided softly through the door, and perching on 

 the chicken, had devoured its breast before the theft was discovered. The servant struck it 

 with a broom, when the bird flew at her head, and pushing its claws into her hair, it buffeted 

 her face with its wings, and could not be removed until it had torn out no small quantity of 

 hair. After a while the bird disappeared, perhaps stolen, but very probably killed by its foe. 



The propensity of the Sparrow Hawk to attack larger birds of prey has already been 

 mentioned, and the creature only suffers poetical justice in being made the subject of similar 

 attacks. The swallows and other swift- winged birds are wonderfully fond of mobbing the 

 Sparrow Hawk, although in many instances they pay dearly for their audacity. I once saw 

 a Sparrow Hawk that was being mobbed by a number of sand martins, and was flying about 

 in a seemingly purposeless and bewildered manner, suddenly turn on its pursuers, seize one of 

 them in its terrible grasp, and instantly sail away bearing its screaming victim in its talons. 

 The Hawk was almost within reach when this circumstance occurred. 



The general color of the adult male is dark brown upon the upper surface of the head, 

 body, and wings, softening into gray as the bird increases in years. The entire under surface 

 is rusty brown, marked with narrow bands of a darker hue ; the long and slender legs and toes 

 are yellow, as is the cere, but with a tinge of green ; the long, sharp, armed claws are black, 

 and the beak is a slate-blue, darkening towards the point. The length of the male bird is 

 about one foot. The female, which is about fifteen inches in length, is colored differently from 



