i 4 o TAMED HAWKS. 



was shot, it might be imagined that it attacked those nests 

 only which had been partly destroyed, or deserted by the 

 wasps, which so late in the season were beginning to get 

 feeble ; but this is not correct, as they have been seen just as 

 busy about hives and wasps' nests in the breeding season, 

 when these insects are in full strength and vigour. How the 

 Hawk contrives to make his way into the comb is also difficult 

 to understand, though, as the legs and claws of this bird were 

 very dirty even to the knee, he most probably uses them as 

 fowls do in dunghills, to scratch away the soil. 



Bold, and apparently savage and cruel as is the disposition 

 of the Hawk tribe, occasional instances are to be found of 

 their manifesting something like kindness and goodwill to- 

 wards birds, where such a disposition might be little expected. 

 Even the Sparrow-hawk, which by some has been considered 

 of so savage and wild a nature, as to render all means for 

 taming it hopeless, has, nevertheless, in the hands of more able 

 or patient guardians, proved not only docile, but amiable in 

 its disposition. About four years ago a young Sparrow-hawk 

 was procured and brought up by a person who was fond of 

 rearing a particular breed of Pigeons, which he greatly prized 

 on account of their rarity. By good management and kindness, 

 he so far overcame the natural disposition of this Hawk, that 

 in time it formed a friendship with the Pigeons and associated 

 with them. At first the Pigeons were rather shy of meeting 

 their natural enemy on such an occasion, but they soon became 

 familiarised, and approached without fear. It was curious to 

 observe the playfulness of the Hawk, and his perfect good- 

 humour during feeding-time ; for he received his portion 

 without any of that ferocity with which birds of prey usually 

 take their food, and merely uttered a cry of lamentation when 

 disappointed of his morsel. When the feast was over, he 

 would attend the Pigeons in their flight round and round the 

 house and gardens, and perch w r ith them on the chimney -top 

 or roof of the house, and this voyage he never failed to take 

 early every morning, when the Pigeons took their exercise. 

 At night he retired and roosted with them in the dovecot ; 



