60 Forest Birds. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE SPARROW-HAWK 



(Accipiter nisus.) 



were standing one hot summer day on the 

 skirts of a pine forest, intently watching a 

 spotted woodpecker at work on a neighbouring tree, 

 when suddenly there appeared beyond the woodpecker 

 a dark object which looked like a ball or stone 

 hurled through the air. It increased rapidly in size, 

 and as it approached and became more distinct we 

 saw that it was a Sparrow-hawk, which, with closed 

 wings, was coming with the swiftness of an arrow 

 straight for the woodpecker. 



Quite ignorant of the near approach of its 

 formidable foe, the woodpecker was busily pecking 

 at the bark of the tree in search of the insects 

 which form its daily food, but when the hawk was 



