350 On the Ornithology of Wilts [ Falconide]. 
nevertheless it is a hawk, and as such is the enemy of the indiscri- 
minating gamekeeper, who can see no difference in the Kestrel and 
Sparrow-hawk, but looks upon both as his mortal foes, and traps 
and destroys them accordingly. There can, however, be no ques- 
tion that the Kestrel, far from being injurious, confers the greatest 
benefit on man, ridding him of thousands of field mice, which are 
destructive alike to the farm, the garden, the orchard, and the 
plantation. Like many other species of the true Falcons, it prefers 
adopting the deserted nest of the magpie, or other large bird, to 
building a nursery for itself. Though some may always be seen, 
Mr. Waterton (who has a great liking for this hawk, and has 
defended it most perseveringly in his charming Essays on Natural 
History) expresses his conviction that by far the greater part 
migrate in autumn to more southern lands; and in this he is fully 
supported by Mr. Knox, who has bestowed much attention to the 
point, and, dwelling on the coast of Sussex, has admirable oppor- 
tunities for observing the migration of birds. 
This closes the list of the true Falcons, which have always been 
considered as more “noble” than the others. We now come to 
other genera, and we shall see that their habits, as well as their 
make, differ in many respects from the above. 
“Sparrow Hawk,” (Accipiter nisus.) The short-winged hawks (of 
which this is our commonest species) take their prey in a different 
manner from the long-winged or true Falcons; instead of rising 
above it in circles, and then stooping with wonderful velocity and 
force, they pursue them on the wing, as a greyhound would a hare, 
gliding after them at great speed for a short distance, even dashing 
after them through woods and thick plantations: but should they 
fail to come up with their quarry, they are unable to prolong the 
chase, and so abandon it and await another chance. Of all the 
short-winged hawks, none is more bold, active, and destructive, 
especially in the breeding season, than the Sparrow Hawk. There 
are many interesting accounts of its wholesale plunder and insa- 
tiability in destroying young birds and game at that time, but the 
most extraordinary that has come under my notice, is that lately » 
published by Mr. Knox, who counted the following victims laid up 
