354 ACCIPITER NISUS. 



great, as it does not a^ipear to observe birds in a hedge or field 

 at the distance of some hundred yards, and its low flight, at 

 the height of only eight or ten feet, indicates a correspondingly 

 short extent of sight. But then the quickness of its perception 

 is astonishing, for when sweeping along nearly at full speed, it 

 will readily discover any object favourably situated for being 

 seized. In the fields, it preys on leverets, young rabbits, field- 

 mice, partridges, larks, pipits, and wagtails ; by the hedges 

 and in woods, on blackbirds, thrushes, sparrows, chaffinches, 

 and buntings. Although it very frequently visits stack-yards, 

 gardens, and the vicinity of houses, its chief object seems to be 

 to obtain small birds, not to look after the poultry ; yet it has 

 been known to seize on pigeons, and more frequently on 

 chickens. Montagu says he has '• frequently known them 

 carry away half a brood of the latter before the thief was dis- 

 covered. They fly low, skim over a poultry-yard, snatch up a 

 chick, and are out of sight in an instant."" Its depredations in 

 the fields and in game-preserves render it highly obnoxious 

 to the keepers, so that it is often shot ; its occasional at- 

 tacks upon tame birds in cages render it hateful to the fair 

 owners of these interesting pets, and its visits to the farm-yard 

 and barn-door are little approved of by thrifty housewives. Its 

 good qualities, its indomitable courage, love of liberty, extreme 

 agility, and elegant figure, are forgotten, and all classes join in 

 persecuting the little plunderer. It does not appear that it has 

 any deadly enemies among birds or quadrupeds, and of the 

 former few ever attempt to molest it, unless when it has at- 

 tacked a nest, and is bent on carrying off the young. A pair 

 of Missel Thrushes vv'ill sometimes defend their nest against it, 

 and that successfully, although sometimes one falls a sacrifice. 

 Mr Weir informs me that it is very difiicult to decoy the 

 Sparrow Hawk into a trap. " The only one," he continues, 

 " which I ever had, taken in this way, was the one that I 

 presented to you in April 1838. It w\is caught by Mv George 

 Craven, gamekeeper to P. G. Skene, Esq., on his property of 

 Pitlour, in the parish of Strathmiglo, Fifeshire. Having ob- 

 served the hawk one morning pounce upon a pigeon, he al- 

 lowed him to devour a part of it before he chased him away. 



