TAMED HAWKS. 153 



ground near several wasps' nests, and who, on dissecting 

 it, found both in its craw and stomach, a quantity of 

 wasps and their grubs, with a few small beetles. As 

 nobody has had the good fortune to see one of these 

 birds in the act of feeding, it is impossible to ascertain 

 how it makes its way without being injured, into the 

 interior of the wasps' nest, which it must do, in order to 

 get at the grubs which are concealed in the very middle 

 of the combs. The head and throat are surrounded with 

 a clothing of remarkably thick, and rather stiff feathers, 

 which may probably be intended as a protection. From 

 the date named, October 12, when this bird was shot, 

 it might be imagined that it attacked those nests only 

 which had been partly destroyed, or deserted by the 

 wasps, which so late in the season were beginning to get 

 feeble ; but this is not correct, as they have been seen 

 just as busy about hives and wasps' nests, in the breeding 

 season, when these insects are in full strength and vigour. 

 How the Hawk contrives to make his way into the comb 

 is also difficult to understand, though as the legs and 

 claws of this bird were very dirty even to the knee, he 

 most probably uses them as fowls do in dunghills, to 

 scratch away the soil. 



Bold, and apparently savage and cruel as is the dis- 

 position of the Hawk tribe, occasional instances are to- 

 be found of their manifesting something like kindness 

 and good-will towards birds, where such a disposition 

 might be little expected. Even the Sparrow-hawk, 

 which by some has been considered of so savage and 

 wild a nature, as to render all means for taming it hope- 

 less, has, nevertheless, in the hands of more able or 

 patient guardians proved, not only docile, but amiable 

 in its disposition. About four years ago, a young Spar- 

 row-hawk was procured and brought up by a person who 

 was fond of rearing a particular breed of Pigeons, which 

 he greatly prized on account of their rarity. By good 

 management and kindness, he so far overcame the natural 

 disposition of this Hawk, that in time it formed a friend- 



