The Sparrow-hawk. 63 
within a yard of the unconscious bird, it suddenly 
stopped its headlong career by gracefully spreading 
its wings, and gliding past its intended victim, was 
soon lost to sight over the trees. We can only 
imagine that it saw us just before it reached the 
bird, or, more probably, that it thought the feat too 
risky to snap its prey off the trunk without damage 
to itself. At all events the woodpecker was saved, 
and when we looked back to the spot where it was 
clinging a moment before, it had disappeared, and 
we saw it no more. 
The Sparrow-hawk may more often be seen in the 
- open than in the woods. It glides swiftly along the 
hedgerows, darting from one side to the other 
through a gap or over a gate, and woe betide any 
bird or rabbit the hawk surprises. With unerring 
aim it darts at its victim, transfixing it with its 
deadly talons, and should its prey endeavour to seek 
safety in flight, it is immediately overtaken and 
struck down. Sometimes the hawk does not at first 
find its quarry ; then it will often abruptly check its 
rapid flight, and alighting on some neighbouring 
bough, it stands erect and motionless. Soon the 
little birds which have hitherto kept hidden and 
silent in the hedge for fear of their enemy, begin to 
chirp and flit about, but the Sparrow-hawk is on the 
watch, and marking one out from the little flock, 
