HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



219 



in the bosom of a lady. When giving chase to its 

 prey, it has been known to dash itself against material 

 objects with such impulsive force as to occasion 

 instant death. I must crave the reader's indulgence 

 in relating the following incident. It shows the 

 remarkable audacity of this bird, and as it is taken 

 from a paper which few of your readers see, I think 

 I am not wrong in introducing it here. "A hawk 

 must live, and many strange tales are told of its 

 powers of flight in chase of its prey. A little incident 

 was witnessed by some gentlemen who were driving 

 through Bickerton lately, which well illustrates its 

 daring when goaded by hunger. The bird was 

 observed for some time. For a period it steadied 

 itself in the air, with imperceptible motion, and then 

 with swift descent darted down upon a rook (Corvus 

 frugilegus) which had alighted on a tree. The rook, 

 which was quite as heavy as the hawk, was carried 

 some distance in the talons of the latter, but its 

 weight dragged it to the ground, where the struggle 

 for supremacy was continued; but not for long, as 

 with sharp strokes of the bill the hawk proved itself 

 the victor, and gorged itself with its hardly earned 

 meal." 



Yet with all this impudent courage, the sparrow- 

 hawk is sometimes — nay, often — ignominiously put to 

 flight. When it appears in any neighbourhood, the 

 little birds give each other timely warning of the 

 enemy's approach; and, as we think that "unity 

 and combination are strength," so think the little 

 birds, for under this impulse they unite in one body 

 and with loudly iterated twitterings of rage and 

 vengeance drive this pert, audacious hawk in grace- 

 less retreat from their domains. It is only by calling 

 into full requisition its power of wing that it can 

 make good its escape from its relentless pursuers. 

 Even then the swiftest of them, such as swallows 

 and others, are foremost in the attack, flying round 

 it, uttering shrill cries of vengeance, buffeting it, 

 and tormenting it in various ways, until they are 

 satiated and return to more peaceful duties. Some- 

 times, however, the hawk will suddenly turn round 

 on its pursuers, scattering them as a whirlwind, and 

 with a loud shriek of blended rage and fury seize one 

 of the bolder of its assailants and carry it off in its 

 sharp talons for its temerity. 



Should there be any starling roosts within its radii 

 of exploration, it is sure to pay them frequent 

 periodical visits. Charles Waterton had a starling 

 Stitnuis vulgaris) tower, which was occasionally 

 visited by this daring bird. He says :— " His unwel- 

 come visit causes a tremendous uproar. An universal 

 shriek of terror announces his detested presence ; and 

 scarcely have I time to fix my eyes upon the tower 

 ere the intruder is off with a starling in his talons." 



All the farmyards within a certain distance of its 

 eyrie are well known. It knows to a near guess 

 where a morning's meal is to be procured. It knows 

 which farmyards are well stocked with poultry, and 



which are not. If there be any preserves of partridges 

 or pheasants in its vicinage, it will acquaint them 

 with its presence. It levies frequent contributions 

 on all — farmyard and preserve, poultry and game — 

 with a degree of regularity which demonstrates con- 

 clusively its effrontery. 



This hawk is more abundant than it would appear 

 to be, owing to its shy, wary, restless disposition, 

 which necessitates it to shun man's society, and seek 

 rather the deep solitudes and quiet seclusion of the 

 most tangled retreats of the forest. As the hobby 

 [Falco subbuteo) has been called a miniature peregrine 

 [Falco peregrinus), so in like manner has the sparrow- 

 hawk been not inaptly termed a diminutive goshawk 

 (Astur palumbarius), to which in form it bears some 

 resemblance. 



It sometimes perches on the top of a decayed tree 

 or a hedge stake, alighting very suddenly. Its 

 position is very erect, its mien determined and active, 

 and its small head is continually moving about, 

 directing, with searching vigilance, its small keen eyes 

 on all sides in eager search for prey. Its power of 

 sight is very great. It often soars to a great altitude. 

 This cannot be to look for food, the height being 

 such as to preclude the possibility of prey being 

 discerned — keen though its sight — from the elevations 

 often attained. It is doubtless a sense of exuberant 

 happiness and unconcealed joy. Its aerial evolutions, 

 notwithstanding the comparative shortness of its 

 wings, are not altogether devoid of graceful move- 

 ment as it glides through the higher regions, making 

 circles of more than ordinary diameter with great 

 beauty and effect. It often takes protracted and 

 extended flights, which are apparently executed with 

 every facility, The interior of dark, thick woods of 

 fir or pine appears most suitable to the temperament 

 of this impulsive bird. 



A fir forest, on a rugged fell-side, with a stream 

 running through in tortuous passage, is a sure haunt 

 of this bird. It sweeps over the canopy of rustling 

 leaves with quick motion, and, suddenly shutting its 

 wings, drops on some decayed tree ; there to rest, or 

 to wait with expectant, vigilant eye and patient 

 perseverance the appearance of some unwary bird, 

 upon which it flies up from its resting-place and gives 

 instant chase. The figure of this hawk is very slim 

 and elegant ; its whole contour fitting it for a bold, 

 daring, freebooting existence. In fact, its life is 

 essentially one of continued action and exertion, of 

 marauding expeditions, of ceaseless plunder, and 

 deeds of piracy. Indeed, this bird is a pirate among 

 feathered creatures, the tyrannical despot of the 

 woods, a rover, a pillager, and a plunderer. It shoots 

 through the air like a passing meteor— dark and 

 mysterious— and, as a flash of heavenly light, dashes 

 itself upon its poor, luckless victim, which, by varied 

 intricacies of flight and ever variant manoeuvres, en- 

 deavours to evade the sharp talons and mortal clutch 

 of its savage pursuer. One moment, and we behold 



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