206 BRITISH BIRDS 



The breeding habits of this species are similar to those of the 

 golden eagle. The eggs, two in number, are white, without markings. 



Its yelping cry is, very powerful, and shriller than the scream of 

 the golden eagle. 



Sparrow- Hawk. 



Accipiter nisus. 



Upper parts dark bluish grey, with a white spot on the nape ; 

 under parts reddish white, transversely barred with deep brown ; 

 tail grey, barred with brownish black ; beak blue, lightest at the 

 base ; cere, irides, and feet yellow. Female : upper parts brown, 

 passing into blackish grey ; under parts greyish white, barred with 

 dark grey. Length of male, twelve inches ; of female, fifteen 

 inches. 



The sparrow-hawk is found in wooded districts in all parts of 

 Great Britain and Ireland, and is, perhaps, the most generally dif- 

 fused species of the diurnal birds of prey in this country, and, com- 

 pared with most other species, may be said to be almost common. 

 In reality it is becoming rare ; which is not strange considering that, 

 next to the carrion crow, it is the most persecuted of all the feathered 

 creatures whose existence is an offence to the gamekeeper. In 

 Yarrell's ' British Birds ' it is said that the female sparrow-hawk is, 

 indeed, the only bird of prey which the game-preserver nowadays 

 need fear ; and there is no doubt that it is immeasurably more de- 

 structive to the chicks of pheasant and partridge than any other 

 raptor. It preys by preference on birds, as the kestrel does on 

 mice, and in pursuit is capable of rapid flight and quick doublings ; 

 but its chases are short and near the surface of the earth. In habits 

 it is a prowler, a stealthy flier among woods, by coppices and 

 hedges, and takes its victims by surprise. It also dashes suddenly 

 on them from its perch, where it has stood concealed by the foliage, 

 keeping a sharp watch on the feathered creatures in its vicinity. 



The sparrow-hawk is said to make a nest for itself, but it is more 

 probable that in nearly all cases it takes possession of an old nest of 

 some other bird. The eggs are four or five in number, and some- 

 times six, pale bluish white in ground-colour, blotched and spotted 

 with various shades of reddish brown. 



