THE SPARROW-HAWK'S NEST 125 



in length more than her mate. Owing to its pluck 

 or courage, this Hawk used often to be used by 

 falconers to secure their game. 



For breeding purposes the Sparrow-Hawk 

 retires to a thick and most unfrequented part of 

 the wood. The nest, which is placed close to the 

 trunk of a tree, is generally actually built by the 

 Hawks, but sometimes the deserted nest of a 

 Crow or a Wood-Pigeon is said to be appropriated 

 by them. The one shown in my picture was 

 undoubtedly made by the occupants themselves, 

 and was of immense size, the foundation being 

 small sticks, on which were placed smaller twigs, 

 the whole interior being dotted over with white 

 down, probably from the breast of the sitting hen. 

 The four eggs were very fine specimens ; and one, 

 as will be seen in the picture, is almost free from 

 spots. It was of a faint greenish-blue colour, and 

 two of the others varied in their number of 

 spots, while the fourth was handsomely blotched 

 and spotted in several shades of a rich reddish- 

 brown. 



While I was in the tree which contained this 

 nest the hen appeared to be desirous of attempt- 

 ing to attack me, but at length she contented 

 herself with venting her feelings by repeatedly 

 flying to a branch near the nest and uttering a 



