494 Practical Game Preserving. 



The hawks which are really destructive can be numbered 

 on the fingers of one hand, and when we count up all the 

 British hawks, the necessity of a wholesale killing of all 

 the members of the tribe is far from apparent. We shall, 

 therefore, only describe those which really exert their pre- 

 dacity in a sufficiently destructive manner amongst game 

 to render their presence in any number obnoxious. 



The Sparrowhawk. This is probably one of the most 

 numerous and destructive of our hawks, and, coupled with 

 its mischievous character, has a most shy and wary nature, 

 so that, although the proofs of its misdeeds are invariably 

 but too apparent, the bird itself is to all intents undetected. 

 None but the most observant are able to study the whole 

 routine of its existence with anything like accuracy ; 

 for, except when hunting for its prey, its intense shyness 

 and wildness are far too well exercised to admit of any 

 close notice of its habits. Wooded districts are mostly 

 esteemed by it, but it seems always to prefer closely-cul- 

 tivated lands probably as its prey is then more plentiful. 

 It hunts both in the open and covert, preferring, of course, 

 in the latter case, woods where the trees are not sufficiently 

 close to impede its progress, as it flies, sometimes at head- 

 long speed, at others with gentle progres^ in search or 

 pursuit of any bird or animal which may be luckless enough 

 to be descried by it. When on the wing it alternates 

 between an occasional exceedingly rapid flight and a 

 sweeping, stealthy sort of motion, acquired apparently 

 without movement of the wings. Should it, thus flying, 

 descry any kind of prey, its flight is changed to a hover, 

 and for a few seconds it scrutinises the object of attention. 



