THE SPARROW-HAWK AND KESTREL. 207 



tion or intimidation ; and there can be no doubt of 

 the fact, that instinctive terror will subdue the 

 powers of some creatures, rendering them stupified 

 and motionless at the sudden approach of danger. 

 We have two kinds of petty hawks, the sparrow 

 hawk (falco nisus) and the kestrel (falco tinnun- 

 culus), that seem fully to impress upon their 

 destined prey this species of intimidation. A 

 beautiful male bullfinch, that sat harmlessly peck- 

 ing the buds from a blackthorn by my side, when 

 overlooking the work of a labourer, suddenly ut- 

 tered the instinctive moan of danger, but made no 

 attempt to escape into the bush, seemingly deprived 

 of the power of exertion. On looking round, a 

 sparrow-hawk was observed on motionless wing 

 gliding rapidly along the hedge, and passing me, 

 rushed on its prey with undeviating certainty. 

 There was fully sufficient time from the moment 

 of perception for the bullfinch to escape ; but he 

 sat still, waiting the approach of death, an unresist- 

 ing victim. We have frequently observed these 

 birds, when perched on an eminence, insidiously 

 attentive to a flock of finches and yellow-hammers 

 basking in a hedge, and after due consideration 

 apparently single out an individual. Upon its 

 moving for its prey, some wary bird has given the 

 alarm, and most of the little troop scuttle imme- 

 diately into the hedge ; but the hawk holds on its 

 course, and darts upon a selected object. If baffled, 



