Outlaws. 161 



expanded to the full, the sunlight glowing on his chest- 

 nut back. Suddenly closing his pinions, he falls like 

 a stone. 



Rising again, he continues his foray, hovering here 

 and there over coppice and meadow, stooping down at 

 times upon his hapless quarry, and at last bearing his 

 booty up to his fierce eyasses in the cliff. 



All a-row upon the threshold stand the bold young 

 brood, and await with eager screams their sire's 

 return. 



Scale the rocks and visit the eyrie. The old bird 

 floats overhead with" wild outcries of defiance. The 

 undaunted brood ruffle up their feathers, throw them- 

 selves on their backs in the farthest corner of their 

 cave and make a brave show of fight with beak and 

 claws. Before them lies the untouched repast a 

 mole. Scattered under the nest are innumerable 

 pellets the undigested remains of many banquets, 

 consisting mainly of the fur of small animals, and 

 glittering with the elytra of carabi and dor-beetles ; 

 traces of feathers few or none. 



The sparrow-hawk is a bird of quite another way of 

 living. His method of hunting is less picturesque, 

 perhaps ; his quarry is more ambitious. He skims 

 swiftly over the fields, and just clearing the hedge, 

 pounces on the unexpectant finch or bunting who is 

 pluming himself on the other side. He has a way of 

 suddenly appearing in a farmyard and snatching up a 

 stray chicken. Even a ringdove is not too large for 



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