30 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



[vol. X. 



When the young hatch, the hen does not take the egg- 

 shells to a distance and drop them, as so many other 

 birds do, but eats them while she broods, being evi- 

 dently unwilling to leave the nest even for the short time 



Fife'. 3. SPARKOW-HAWK. 



" The lien almost iuTariably takes the food with the foot." 



(Photographed by J. H. Owen.) 



that would be necessary to carry the egg-shells away. 

 During the nestling period, until nearly the end, she pays 

 great attention to the cleanness of the nest, and at first 

 picks out the dung, the young being not strong enough 

 to eject it clear of the nest as they do aftenvards. She 

 sometimes s^^■allows the pellets of the very young, but as 



