RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 77 



be driven to covert, waiting and watching until 

 the game, pressed by hunger, is induced to move ; 

 and it generally succeeds in its object in this 

 manner, from its greater powers of abstinence. 



The goshawk is now very scarce in England, 

 being nearly confined to the mountainous parts 

 of Scotland, where it breeds, and is said to be a 

 great destroyer of game. 



The SPABEOW-HAWK is of small comparative 

 size, and may be called a goshawk in miniature, 

 its habits being very similar. It is a common and 

 well-known species in most of the wooded dis- 

 tricts throughout this country. Bold, active, 

 and impetuous, it is very destructive ; a danger- 

 ous enemy to small quadrupeds and young birds, 

 and is not unfrequently known to thieve from the 

 barn yard. ^ 



Though shy and untractable, this bird has 

 proved in some instances tameable ; and an inte- 

 resting case in point is given by Bishop Stanley. 

 A young sparrow-hawk was procured and brought 

 up by a person who was fond of rearing pigeons. 

 The hawk, by management and kindness, was at 

 length brought to form a sort of friendship with 

 the pigeons, and to associate with them. At first 

 the pigeons were naturally shy at so close a con-^ 

 tact with their enemy, but they soon became used 

 to him, and approached without fear. It was 



