290 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



Bower-Scott, and according to the Eev. C. H. Fielding, 

 one was taken at Lydd and was in the collection of 

 Mr. Jell. 



Genus ACCIPITER Brisson. 



SPAEEOW-HAWK. 



Accipitev nisus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 130 

 (1766). 



This species is generally distributed over the county, 

 but is not so numerous as formerly, especially in those 

 parts of Kent which are Pheasant preserves. It still 

 breeds in the larger and more secluded woods and 

 plantations. 



Mr. J. Gould, in his Birds of Great Britain, writes: 

 ** To give some idea of the impetuosity of the flight and 

 stoop of the Sparrow-Hawk, I shall here insert a note 

 on the subject, transmitted to me by W. Oxenden 

 Hammond, Esq., of St. Alban's Court, near Wingham, 

 in Kent : — 



" ' I once witnessed a circumstance wholly at variance 

 with the creed of all falconers, who affirm that the true 

 Falcons only stoop and strike their prey, while the short- 

 winged Hawks chase and clutch. Three or four years 

 ago I was driving towards Dover, when suddenly a 

 Sparrow-Hawk, with a stoop like a Falcon's, struck a 

 Lark close to my horse's head. The Lark fell as a 

 Grouse or a Partridge will fall to a Falcon or Tiercel ; 

 and the Sparrow-Hawk did not attempt to carry, but 

 held on his way. I jumped down and picked up the hodij 

 of the Lark and the head, the two being entirely dis- 

 united. The velocity and force of the stoop must have 



