HABITS OF SPARROW-HAWK. 



107 



VOL. X.] 



wood and district round it only the pair that bred there 

 and often only a single bird. These return to the nest 

 wood at night to roost. They come in pretty late and 

 swish through once at a terrific pace, making a wild 



Fig. 1. SPARED W-HAWK. 



The hen takes up a position near the nest from which she watches after the 

 brooding period is over. 



(Photographed by J. H. Owen.) 



call or shriek and then come in absolutely silently the 

 second time. At this time of year they usually devour 

 their prey where they kill it, but sometimes carry it to a 

 low stump or mound in the wood and tear it up there. 

 The usual catch is along the side of a fence and a col- 

 lection of feathers on the ground by a fence is usually 

 the sign that a Sparrow-Hawk has fed there. It is a 



