343 



SPARROWHAWK. 

 Accipiter nisus (Z.). 



Common and generally distributed resident, also regular immigrant 

 from the north in autumn. 



Probably the first mention of the Sparrowhawk, as a county 

 bird, is contained in Graves's " History of Cleveland " (1808), 

 where it is enumerated in the list of resident birds. 



Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : — 



Accipiter nisus. — Sparrowhawk — By no means uncommon. 



Next to the Kestrel this is the most abundant of the 

 Hawk tribe, being a generally distributed resident, breed- 

 ing in almost every part of the county where there are 

 suitable woodlands. It deposits its eggs in a nest of its own 

 construction, contrary to the statements of some authorities, 

 who aver that a deserted nest is usually selected ; this is very 

 rarely the case, and indeed when it happens is an exception 

 to a very general rule. The nest made by this species may 

 be described as a rather flat structure of dead twigs, slightly 

 hollowed, the upper edge having generally a little down from 

 the body of the bird adhering to it. 



The evidence furnished to the British Association Migration 

 Committee proves that the Sparrowhawk is a regular im- 

 migrant from the north in autumn on the coast ; I have, on 

 several occasions, observed individuals freshly arrived in the 

 neighbourhood of the Teesmouth, and it sometimes appears 

 in considerable numbers. 



This species is becoming much scarcer, the result of the 

 family grudge cherished by the gamekeeper, who allows the 

 young to be hatched, and then, lying in wait, secures both 

 parents without trouble, leaving the young to perish miserably 

 in the nest. 



The late J. Carter of IMasham related an incident shewing 

 the boldness of one of these birds which flew at, and struck, 

 a Barn Owl, the latter falling to the ground, while the Hawk 



