132 BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
tale heap of feathers by a hedgeside shows where a 
Thrush, Ring Dove, or other bird has fallen a victim 
to its prowess. At this season it usually hunts over 
a regular beat, and may be seen passing a given spot 
about the same time day after day. The pSarrow 
Hawk’s audacity, when in pursuit of its prey, is well 
known. Mr. S. Radcliffe tells us that at Mottram, a 
few years ago, one chased a Robin through a house into 
the kitchen, where both were captured. 
The nesting-habits of the Sparrow Hawk have occa- 
sioned much controversy; some observers affirm that 
the bird always builds its own nest; whilst others as 
definitely assert that it utilises the disused nest of some 
other species. In our opinion, neither rule is invariably 
followed, the bird building a nest, or appropriating 
another, according to circumstances. Speaking of 
Wirral, Brockholes says:—‘This hawk always makes 
its own nest here. If this be robbed, a second is 
occasionally built; but generally the second laying of 
eggs is placed on any old nest which is sufficiently 
large. If robbed a second time, a third set of eggs 
is sometimes laid. I once found a third laying of 
eggs in some leaves which had accumulated in a fork 
of a tree. ! The nest of the previous year is sometimes 
utilised. In May 1887, a gamekeeper at Plumbley 
pointed out to us a Scotch fir, where in 1886 he had 
captured three adult Sparrow Hawks in succession by 
placing a gin in the nest. On climbing to the nest, 
we found the rusted and unsprung trap covered by a 
thick layer of larch twigs, upon which were six eggs 
in various stages of incubation. 
1 Brockholes, op. cit. p. 4. 
