FALCONID^. 3 



them to elude his grasp. The Kestrel, however, con- 

 quered, for I heard a squeak, and then the whirr of 

 the flock as it took flight, and immediately after the 

 hawk flew over my head with a sparrow in its claw. 

 I had never thought of firing till he was out of reach, 

 but I followed the direction he took, and he finally 

 darted out from under a ploughshare, where I found 

 the -sparrow with his head eaten off.' 



Sparrowhawk {Accipitcr Nistis). This also Is a 

 common species, but not so numerous as the Kestrel. 

 Many of these hawks are shot annually as vermin, 

 and almost every house one enters with any stuffed 

 birds in it, is certain to contain this hawk among the 

 rest. It breeds abundantly, and so many nests are 

 taken every season, that it is surprising that it con- 

 trives to increase and multiply' as it does. I have 

 seen many tame Sparrowhawks in Eton and Windsor, 

 and they appear to thrive well in confinement. 



By nature the Sparrowhawk is exceedingly bold 

 and impetuous, and many instances are recorded in 

 which one of these birds has been known to fly 

 against a window in pursuit of its prey, killing 

 itself by the force of the shock. The food of this 

 hawk comprises small birds of all descriptions, phea- 

 sants, partridges, and grouse, the denizens of the 

 poultry-yard occasionally suffering from its depre- 

 dations ; mice are sometimes, though rarely, found 

 in its crop. 



The males separate from the females early in winter. 



