150 WOODLAND CREATURES 



affair. The bird preens with the greatest of care, 

 drawing feather after feather through its beak, 

 and dressing all until they are in perfect order. 

 It is no wonder, considering the time and attention 

 it gives to its plumage, that it is always one of the 

 smartest of birds. 



This hawk's liking for a warm and sheltered 

 spot has already been alluded to, which preference 

 influences its choice of a nesting site. Most of 

 the nests I have met with have been situated in 

 some tall tree in a well-wooded dingle where the 

 winds do not readily penetrate. Here, at a con- 

 siderable height from the ground, where a bough 

 or two branch out from the trunk of the tree, a 

 platform of small sticks and twigs is made during 

 April. But the nesting site was decided on much 

 earlier than this, mating taking place at the end 

 of February, when the pair choose their territory, 

 after which, on fine mornings, one can see them 

 sailing backwards and forwards over their own 

 particular wood. As soon as nest building has 

 begun the hen gives up this amusement, but the 

 cock may still indulge in it. In my experience 

 it is usual for an entirely new nest to be made, 

 but it is asserted by many writers that the sparrow 

 hawk prefers to do up a previous season's nest. 

 However, I have only met with two instances; in 

 the one case the last year's nest was used again, 

 and in the second a six-year-old nest that had 

 nearly fallen to pieces was repaired late in the 

 season and utilized for a small clutch of three 

 eggs. In the latter case there was little 



