SPARROW-HAWK. 75 



THE SPARROW-HAWK is another short-winged Hawk, 

 but of small comparative size, in its habits very similar to 

 the Goshawk last described, and has been aptly termed a 

 Goshawk in miniature. It has, however, been separated 

 from the Goshawk generically, on account of the tarsi and 

 toes being long and slender ; and the term Accipiter, ori- 

 ginally bestowed upon it by our countryman and naturalist 

 Ray, has been restored to it. In most of the wooded 

 districts the Sparrow-Hawk is a common and well-known 

 species ; bold, active, vigilant, and destructive, a danger- 

 ous enemy to small quadrupeds and young birds, upon 

 which they subsist, and are so daring during the season in 

 which their own nestlings require to be provided with food, 

 as frequently to venture among the out-buildings of the 

 farmhouse, where they have been observed to fly low, skim 

 over the poultry-yard, snatch up a Chick, and get off 

 with it in an instant. 



In reference to the capabilities of this species for hawk- 

 ing, Sir John Sebright says, that he " once took a Par- 

 tridge with a Sparrow -Hawk of his own breaking, ten 

 days after he had been taken wild from a wood. These 

 Hawks must be kept in a high condition, and cannot fly 

 when there is the least wind : they are upon the whole 

 more difficult to manage than strong birds. The flight of 

 the Sparrow-Hawk is rapid for a short distance : he will 

 take Partridges at the beginning of the season, and is the 

 best of all the Hawks for Landrails." 



Mr. Selby says, in rearing the young of this species care 

 should be taken to separate them very early; otherwise 

 the female birds, being superior in size and stronger, are 

 sure to destroy and devour the males, as he has repeatedly 

 found, if they are kept caged together. 



The Sparrow-Hawk generally takes possession of some 

 old or deserted nest in a tree, most frequently that of the 



