22 



The South African Birds of Pret/ 



There remains but to mention the three Sparrow- 

 Hawks {Accipiter). They are all bold birds, and despite 

 their small size, are inveterate poultry thieves, descend- 

 ing with an oblique swoop, and carrying off ducklings, 

 chickens, and even full-grown fowls. Under normal 



Photo, from life by R. H. Ivy.] 



Fig. 9.— Red-breasted Sparbow-Hawk. 



conditions small birds and young game birds would be 

 their main articles of diet. 



The smallest of the three is the Little Sparrow-Hawk 

 {A. miniiUiis), which is slaty- black above, and white 

 below, narrowly cross-barred with brown, edged with 



