274 The Sparrow Hawk. 



scattered points, or in the breeding season small and very- 

 isolated family parties. 



During winter also, but becoming scarcer as the season 

 advances, sparrow hawks are not at all uncommon. With the 

 spring migration a sudden accession of numbers takes place, most 

 of the birds passing onwards, northwards, and eastwards. As 

 a summer resident the sparrow hawk has become greatly reduced 

 in numbers, and althought a nest is still no rarity it is not nearly 

 so common as formerly. There can be little question that since 

 the modern form of game preserving set in, now some seventy 

 or eighty years ago, the resident or breeding stock of sparrow 

 hawks has been destroyed outright at least half a dozen times 

 over. The places or beats of the birds thus killed are filled 

 again each season by arriwils from other parts of the western 

 range of the spieces. This process, however, shows signs of 

 coming to an end, as it cannot go on for ever; and, like other 

 members of our native fauna, subjected to like cruel treatment, 

 the sparrow hawk is bound to be finally banished from the land. 



In boldness there is none to surpass it, for while the kestrel 

 flies off and keeps at a discreet distance, the sparrow hawk, more 

 especially the male, will dash past within a yard or two, and 

 seize a bird almost within one's reach, or chase its intended 

 victim right to one's feet, as has happened more than once in 

 my own experience. 



The female rarely ever takes a bird larger than a blackbird 

 or a thrush, and only seldom does she take any except the small 

 warblers or finches. A robin is a favourite prey, and another 

 bird that is often taken is the greenfinch. These birds are fond 

 of sitting engaged in meditation on conspicuous points of shrubs 

 and hedges, clear of the thicker growth of branches and twigs, 

 and so when this hawk glides suddenly along he falls upon the 

 unsuspecting bird in an instant, and striking out with whichever 

 foot is nearest as he passes, without swerving or pausing in 

 flight. Should he miss, as very seldom happens, the robin or 

 greenfinch will be off into the nearest thicket uttering a series 

 of terrified squeals, the hawk meanwhile wheeling in a moment 

 and pursuing it through e^•ery twist and turn with marvellous 

 speed and dexterity. Hunting along the hedgerows is a favourite 

 mode of seeking its food. Gliding along the top, now dipping 

 down to one side, and then to the other, whisking through every 



