The Sparrow-hawk. 63 



within a yard of the unconscious bird, it suddenly 

 stopped its headlong career by gracefully spreading 

 its wings, and gliding past its intended victim, was 

 soon lost to sight over the trees. We can only 

 imagine that it saw us just before it reached the 

 bird, or, more probably, that it thought the feat too 

 risky to snap its prey off the trunk without damage 

 to itself. At all events the woodpecker was saved, 

 and when we looked back to the spot where it was 

 clinging a moment before, it had disappeared, and 

 we saw it no more. 



The Sparrow-hawk may more often be seen in the 

 open than in the woods. It glides swiftly along the 

 hedgerows, darting from one side to the other 

 through a gap or over a gate, and woe betide any 

 bird or rabbit the hawk surprises. With unerring 

 aim it darts at its victim, transfixing it with its 

 deadly talons, and should its prey endeavour to seek 

 safety in flight, it is immediately overtaken and 

 struck down. Sometimes the hawk does not at first 

 find its quarry ; then it will often abruptly check its 

 rapid flight, and alighting on some neighbouring 

 bough, it stands erect and motionless. Soon the 

 little birds which have hitherto kept hidden and 

 silent in the hedge for fear of their enemy, begin to 

 chirp and flit about, but the Sparrow-hawk is on the 

 watch, and marking one out from the little flock, 



