. About the loth of July, a pair of sparrow-hawks 



bred in an old crow's nest on a low beech in the 



hanger ; and as their brood, which was numerous, 



began to grow up, became so daring and ravenous, that they were 



a terror to all the dames in the village that had chickens or ducklings 



under their care. 



A boy climbed the tree, and found the young so fledged that they 

 all escaped from him, but discovered that a good house had been 

 kept. The larder was well stored with provisions ; for he brought 

 down a young blackbird, jay, and house-martin, all clean picked, 

 and some half devoured. 



The old birds had been observed to make sad havoc for some days 

 among the new-flown swallows and martins, which, being but lately 

 out of their nests, had not acquired those powers and command of 

 wing that enable them, when more mature, to set such enemies at 

 defiance. G. W. 



168 



