78 FAMILIAR WILD BIXDS. 



commonly it may be observed stealing along under the 

 cover of a hedge, and suddenly sweeping over it into the 

 adjoining field, to pounce upon some unsuspecting victim 

 with a force and suddenness that leaves but little chance 

 for resistance or escape. 



A remarkable peculiarity connected with the bird, 

 and noticed by numerous writers, is the fact of its being 

 subject to fits of apparent cowardice ; upon such occasions 

 it is literally mobbed by smaller birds, who follow it per- 

 sistently, peck at it, and fill the air with notes of anger 

 and alarm. 



The flight of the Sparrow Hawk is rapid and easy ; it 

 seems to sweep along over hedge and ditch with little 

 or no exertion, and often rises in the air for a few moments 

 «?er some particular spot, and then gliding away for a 

 uhort distance, it will again stop and repeat the action, 

 lis food is captured both in the air and upon the ground, 

 and the first blow is generally fatal, so unerring is its aim, 

 and so great the force with which it darts upon its prey. 

 It has, however, been known to hunt a bird for a consider- 

 able time with great pertinacity, rising above and striking 

 at it two or three times in succession, and upon some rare 

 occasions failing altogether to secure its prey. 



The Sparrow Hawk commences her nest in April, and 

 generally chooses some lofty, inaccessible spot ; sometimes, 

 however, the old nest of a crow or magpie is used. The 

 nest is flat and shallow, and not dissimilar to that of the 

 ring-dove, although it is larger, and is composed mostly of 

 twigs. The eggs number from four to six, and are in 

 oolour greyish-white tinged with blue, and irregularly 

 mnrked with spots and blotches of dark brown. 



The young are hatched after an incubation of three 



