The Sparrow-hawk. 71 



hunting its prey ; while the sharp-winged, and 

 consequently fast-flying Merlin is bolder in its 

 tactics, hunting its prey in the open field, and 

 seemingly delighting to chase and overcome the 

 fastest flying birds. 



There are many ways of obtaining hawks, but 

 perhaps " hawk calling " is the most effective. The 

 call is made of two pieces of hard wood fitted 

 together, with a strip of thin birch bark between them. 



When this little instrument is properly blown, it 

 gives forth a sound very much like the cry of a 

 buzzard, which seems to attract hawks of all kinds. 

 Rising early, we have often gone to some small 

 hollow, and covering it with green boughs, have 

 crept underneath with our gun and call. Although 

 there was not a hawk in sight for miles around, yet 

 within five or ten minutes of our first call we catch 

 sight of one skimming by. Crouching motionless 

 we call again, and soon see the hawk alight on 

 a neighbouring tree. It is too far off for a shot, 

 so we wait patiently and give another cry. Others 

 now appear, and it is not long before several have 

 fallen to our gun. But if we accidentally make 

 a false note or call, or incautiously raise our head 

 above the boughs, the hawks immediately detect 

 the trap and take to flight, not to be seen in the 

 same spot again that day. 



