108 THE SPARROW-HAWK 



THE SPARROW HAWK 

 [W. P. PYCRAFT] 



The sparrow-hawk stands in sharp contrast with all the species 

 so far considered. Long-legged, and short-winged, a goshawk in 

 miniature, fierce, elegant, agile and graceful ; its many admirable 

 attributes have nevertheless incurred the cordial dislike, both of the 

 game-preserver and the poultry-keeper. Yet, in spite of merciless 

 persecution, the sparrow-hawk is happily one of our commonest 

 birds of prey, though less numerous than the kestrel, which receives 

 a measure of protection, or rather, perhaps, incurs less animosity. 



For choice, this bird haunts the well-wooded and cultivated 

 districts is rare in the wilder and treeless parts of our islands. As 

 might be supposed, from its partiality for woods, it is a short-winged 

 bird : a characteristic of all wood-dwellers. Feeding largely on small 

 birds, it pursues its prey with amazing skill and swiftness, threading 

 its way amid the loose cover which it haunts with a dexterity which 

 defies description. But the prey, when captured, is brought to the 

 ground and eaten. The smaller birds, unhappily, are not alone eaten, 

 pigeons, both wild and tame, poultry, and, most heinous of all, game, 

 also form part of its bill of fare, though it is certain that the 

 " ravages " inflicted on the latter are grossly exaggerated. That this 

 is so, is shown by the fact that some game-preservers, who also have a 

 love for ornithology, and delight in watching the wild career of this 

 intrepid bird, refuse to allow their keepers to kill this bird at sight, 

 or to compass its end by traps. Only when one is found to have 

 abused this protection by taking young pheasants is its death-warrant 

 issued. And no one will quarrel with such acts of retribution, for 

 when once the coops have been discovered, the marauder will return 

 again and again for more. Birds, however, do not form its only fare, 

 for mice, young rabbits and frogs are also eaten. 



Though it must be a matter of common knowledge that females 



