220 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



barrels at it, at long range, too far to injure it, 

 though the shot must have struck it. It was 

 not, however, until I had fired the third barrel 

 that it could be induced to leave its prey. 

 Although, generally speaking, it is a shy, wary 

 bird, I have frequently noticed that on such 

 occasions it will stick to its prey in the most reck- 

 lessly-persistent manner, and so often falls a victim 

 to its temerity. The length of the male bird is 

 about twelve inches, that of the female some 

 three inches longer, the plumage of the former 

 being of a slaty-blue above, the under parts white 

 with reddish-brown bars, the back of the head 

 being mottled with white. The breast of the 

 female bird is barred with grayish-brown. 



As I have elsewhere remarked, sparrow hawks, 

 and hawks generally, do more good than harm. 

 Keepers, in their ignorance, shoot them whenever 

 they get the opportunity, thus ill-requiting the 

 good service they receive from these birds by 

 killing vermin which are destructive to game. 

 Moreover, if the killing of game can be laid to 

 their charge, it should be remembered that it is, 

 generally speaking, such birds only as are weakly 

 or diseased, and so are better destroyed. 



Of all inhuman devices for the destruction of 

 hawks, etc., the pole-trap is the most cruel. So 

 much has been said against it of recent years that 

 its use seems to have been well-nigh abandoned, 

 and it is very sincerely to be hoped that it may 

 never again be resumed. 



