SPARROW HAWK. 357 



is over. Not so the other birds, which, from their command- 

 ing position, emit cries expressive of their fears. The clear 

 notes of the Chaffinch are distinguishable above the rest. Two 

 or three hundred of these birds twinking in chorus produce a 

 fine effect on a calm frosty day like this. The Hawk now 

 perches for a minute or so on the hedge, and as the stacks screen 

 him from view, the fears of the poor birds subside for a little ; 

 but there he comes ; swift as the arrow from the bow he rushes 

 from between the stacks, gains the plantation, dashes fearlessly 

 among the bushes after the fugitives, clutches his quarry, and 

 is off as swiftly as he came. Sometimes, when he has stealthily 

 approached the garden, without being observed, perhaps the 

 noise of a party of Sparrows squabbling amongst themselves 

 attracts his attention. Swift as thought he glides along the 

 walk ; if the bushes are too thick for a dash he flies rapidly 

 round them ; then woe to the wretched creature that first meets 

 the glance of his keen eye. At another time he has found a 

 flock of Sparrows in the close-pruned hedge that surrounds the 

 stack-yard. He first beats one side, then the other, the birds 

 always betaking themselves to the opposite side ; and thus he 

 persecutes them till one in its fright exposes itself. A shriek 

 follows, and all is over. I only once observed this hawk rush 

 from a great height in the air upon a flock thus circumstanced. 

 Its usual manner of approaching its prey is by gliding close 

 over the ground. 



" It follows an ingenious method of procuring a choice supply 

 of food from August to November, when the leaves are on the 

 trees that surround our dwelling. Not far from the garden- 

 hedge is a row of tall willows. Within the garden, and not 

 fourteen yards from them, stands a beautiful white birch, which 

 shoots up to the height of about twenty-four feet. Its stem is 

 entwined with an aged honeysuckle, in which for the last three 

 years ten pairs of Sparrows have built their nests, which in 

 some places embrace the entire circumference of the stem, while 

 in others they are piled irregularly above one another. Softly 

 and warily does the Sparrow Hawk glide into one of the top- 

 most boughs of the willows, and keen are the glances of his 

 bright eye, which grows brighter when he sees the Sparrows 



