72 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



the old sparrowhawk had flown with the young 

 pheasant, they at last found the nest in a thick 

 oak tree ; it was very broad and flat, constructed 

 on that of a carrion crow, but apparently much 

 enlarged, being considerably wider, although not 

 so deep. Hearing the cries of one of the young 

 hawks at a little distance, he concealed himself 

 in the underwood, and waited until the old male 

 arrived at the nest with a lark in his claws ; him 

 he shot, and then mounted the tree to examine 

 the nest, which he found nearly filled with dead 

 birds which the old hawks had procured during 

 their foraging expeditious for their young. The 

 latter were absent, but D. could hear their sharp 

 cries from different parts of the wood. His next 

 care was to set a trap in the nest without remov- 

 ing any of its contents, and he had not waited 

 long before he caught the female, with a young 

 chicken in her talons. He then proceeded to 

 empty the nest, and could scarcely trust his eyes 

 at the sight here he shook out upon the grass 

 for my inspection the contents of the bag there 

 were fifteen young pheasants, about the size of 

 quails some rather larger four young partridges, 

 five chickens, a bullfinch, two meadow pipits and 

 two larks, all in a fresh state. Puttock, the gar- 

 dener, who helped D. to remove them from the 

 nest, corroborated his statement, and I certainly 



