Northern Observations of Inland Birds 211 



ere it raided the pens. Consequently its raids were 

 invariably at the opposite end of the farm from that at 

 which the gunner was posted. 



In due course this hawk disappeared, and the con- 

 clusion was that it had been shot by a keeper. Some 

 weeks later, however, the remains of a sparrow hawk were 

 found in a large open tank at the back of the farm. Whether 

 the hawk had struck at its own reflection, or in what 

 manner it found its last resting place amidst such incon- 

 gruous surroundings, it is, of course, impossible to say. 



There is no doubt that the sparrow hawk is a fierce 

 and formidable bird, and though in many respects an 

 arrant coward, it often exhibits the utmost pluck and 

 persistency when once it has set out in quest of a certain 

 victim. A keeper at Killin one day noticed a cock 

 pheasant behaving in rather a curious way in a strip of 

 woodland. The bird was scratching in the leaves in a 

 most excited and agitated manner, protesting angrily 

 and at intervals glancing towards the tree tops. The 

 cause of its annoyance was not far to seek for suddenly 

 a sparrow hawk descended from among the branches, 

 and swooped savagely towards the long tail. Instantly 

 the pheasant leapt up to meet the assault, striking violently 

 with spurs and claws. The feathers flew, the hawk re- 

 turned to its perch, and the pheasant went on scratching 

 as before. In a few seconds the hawk again attacked, and 

 once again was repelled as before, and once more they 

 took up their former positions. How long this curious 

 performance had gone on, or how long it would have gone 

 on had not the hawk caught sight of the keeper and 

 flown off, there is no telling. When recounting the incident 

 the keeper expressed the opinion that the pheasant would 

 eventually have been killed by the hawk. 



An old cock pheasant is, of course, a very tough customer 

 and such a bird has been known to take possession by 



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