The Sparrow-haivk. 65 



quiet place under a tree or bush unmistakable signs 

 that a hawk has dined there. Small birds or rabbits 

 form its chief food, but we are sorry to say that this 

 lovely bird of prey is one of the few that the keeper or 

 farmer is justified in slaying, for it cannot be denied 

 that partridges, young pheasants, and leverets all 

 fall victims to its prowess, and when the claims of 

 a family press it sorely, it will even invade the 

 farmyard, and snatching up a chicken, be away 

 before the alarm is raised. 



The name " Sparrow-hawk " was undoubtedly 

 given to this bird on account of its preying so 

 largely 011 small birds, such as finches, larks and 

 others, which were in olden days all covered by the 

 general name of sparrow, but we are not aware that 

 it has any special liking for the house- spar row. We 

 once heard, however, of two Sparrow-hawks being 

 caught by some bird-catchers with clap-nets in which 

 they were taking sparrows. 



It is a curious fact, that although so desperately 

 afraid of this hawk, a troop of small birds, clamour- 

 ing loudly all the while, will often follow the 

 enemy when he has just carried off one of their 

 comrades. It is difficult to discover a reason for this 

 sudden change from cowardice to courage. A mo- 

 ment before, these same little birds were crouching 

 in the hedge half paralyzed with fear at the sight 



