352 ACCIPITER NISrS. 



for, like most of the Raptores, it is incapable of walking effi- 

 ciently, the curiously prominent f)ads on its soles, and its beauti- 

 fully taper claws rendering such mode of progression imprac- 

 ticable, no hawk having the power of retracting the latter 

 organs in the manner of the Feline tribe, or in such a degree 

 as to prevent their points from touching the ground. Its flight, 

 however, is in some respects unrivalled, and while its wings 

 are of sufficient length and breadth to give it a velocity nearly 

 equal to that of the Merlin, its tail is so large and mobile as to 

 enable it to execute with never-failing promptitude the most 

 abrupt turnings, as w^ell as the most delicate declensions. 



There it comes, silently and swiftly gliding, at the height of 

 a few feet, over the grass field, now shooting along the hedge, 

 now gliding over it to scan the other side, and again advancing 

 with easy strokes of its half-expanded wings. A beautiful ma- 

 chine it is certainly, and marvellously put together, to be no- 

 thing but a fortuitous concourse of particles, as some wise men, 

 believing no such thing themselves, would have us to believe. 

 As if suspecting the concealment of something among the grass, 

 it now hovers a while, balancing itself with rapid but gentle 

 beats of its wings, and a vibratory motion of its expanded tail ; 

 but, unable to discover any desirable object, away it speeds, 

 bounds over the stone wall, and curving upwards alights on 

 that stunted and solitary ash, where it stands in a nearly erect 

 posture, and surveys the neighbourhood. From such a station 

 it will sometimes dart suddenly on some perhaps unsuspecting 

 bird not far off, but more frequently it proceeds to a distance 

 before it finds its prey. Should it meet with a Lark or a 

 Thrush in its way, it may pursue it in open flight, gliding 

 rather behind than above it ; but this is not its usual mode of 

 hunting, and frequently its efforts prove unavailing, for the ob- 

 ject of pursuit by gliding to either side during the swoop of its 

 enemy, and at length finding refuge in a hedge or thicket, often 

 escapes with its life. With a swift but stealthy pace it speeds 

 in silence, casting keen glances beneath and around, until find- 

 ing a bird unprotected and heedless of its approach, it clutches 

 him in an instant. So rapid is the descent of this plunderer 

 that to one who has unexpectedly witnessed it, nothing can be 



