78 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



curious to observe the playfulness of the hawk, 

 and his perfect good-humour at feeding-time. He 

 attended the pigeons, after the meal was over, in 

 their flight round the house and gardens, and at 

 night retired with them to the dove-cot. Nor 

 was he ever known to touch a young one. He 

 seemed quite unhappy if separated from his com- 

 panions, and would utter melancholy cries when 

 purposely shut up alone, which were exchanged 

 for notes of joy and pleasure when any person 

 familiar to him entered the place. The narrator 

 of this account added, "he was as playful as a 

 kitten and as loving as a dove." 



A similar instance is recorded of a pet sparrow- 

 hawk which used to strut about the yard where 

 the poultry were kept, without being feared or 

 regarded. During a severe winter this bird walked 

 with the pigeons into their house at night, and 

 slept in their dwelling ; and, though there was a 

 numerous flock of old and young birds, not one 

 was ever missed. It was long a matter of wonder 

 to the family to whom this bird belonged, why 

 he used to approach the window-sill of the room 

 when the piano was being played, and at length 

 come quite in. On one occasion he was placed 

 on the edge of the instrument, for the sake more 

 of seeing him ruffle his feathers tnan from any ex- 

 pectation of giving him pleasure. He stood there 



