SPARROW-HAWKS. 289 



the wing, this species may be easily distinguished 

 from the common buzzard, by its hawk-like appear- 

 ance, small head, wings not so blunt, and longer tail. 

 This specimen contained in its craw some limbs of 

 frogs, and many grey snails without shells. The 

 irides of the eyes of this bird were of a beautiful 

 bright yellow colour. 



About the tenth of July, in the same summer, a 

 pair of sparrow-hawks bred in an old crow's nest on 

 a low beech in the same hanger ; and as their brood, 

 which was numerous, began to grow up, became so 

 daring and ravenous, that they were a terror to all 

 the dames in the village that had chickens or duck- 

 lings under their care. A boy climbed the tree, and 

 found the young so fledged that they all escaped from 

 him ; but discovered that a good house had been 

 kept ; the larder was well stored with provisions ; for 

 he brought down a young blackbird, jay, and house - 

 martin, all clean picked, and some half devoured. 

 The old birds had been observed to make sad havoc 

 for some days among the new-flown swallows and 

 martins, which, being but lately out of their nests, 

 had not acquired those powers and command of wing 

 that enable them, when more mature, to set such 

 enemies at defiance. 



LETTER XCIV. 



TO THE SAME. 



SELBORNE, Nov. 30, 1780. 

 DEAR SIR, 



EVERY incident that occasions a renewal of our 

 correspondence will ever be pleasing and agreeable 

 to me. 



u 



