VOL. X.l 



HABITS OF SPARROW-HAWK. 



113 



then the other. Occasionally, as they overtake one 

 another, they seem to squabble and the pace increases 

 for a short distance. They sometimes attain a tremendous 

 altitude and then suddenly break off the movements and 

 separate. At other times, after reaching a considerable 

 height, they will suddenly descend like plummets to the 

 wood and shortly afterwards resume the curious flight. 



Fig. 4. SPARROW-HAWK,' 



The lien stretchiug a wiug and the tail to their fullest extent . 



[(Photographed by J. H. Owen.) 



It is strange that, so far as I can tell, no notice is taken 

 of the wind, but the flights follow the length of the wood,, 

 in a narrow wood at any rate. The slow, measured 

 wing-beats resemble the evening flight of the Jackdaw 

 more than that of any other bird. The note used is 

 generally the sibilant whistle. I have also seen such 

 flights, sometimes across open ground, performed by 

 single birds in late summer and early autumn. 



Later on, as the time for laying approaches, the cock 

 alone does these flights, while the hen remains perched 



