136 HAWKS. 



it has been observed, and should be known to bird-catchers, 

 that twigs covered with bird-lime, if long and very slender, 

 will stop the flight of the strongest bird, if fixed so as to 

 pass off with him when touched by his feathers, for they 

 become like a chain binding the wings to the body. 



Sparrow-hawks may be caught by similar means ; there 

 is, indeed, a great resemblance between these birds in many 

 of their habits, though the latter may be considered as the 

 more shy and untractable of the two. When in pursuit of 

 prey, however, they will not unfrequently evince great bold- 

 ness. We know of one which darted into an upper room, 

 where a Goldfinch was suspended in a cage, and it must 

 have remained there some time, and continued its operations 

 with great perseverance, as on the entrance of the lady to 

 whom the poor bird belonged, it was found dead and bleed- 

 ing at the bottom, and its feathers plentifully scattered 

 about. The Kestrel is, on the other hand, rather more 

 tractable, and will manifest, if not attachment, at least no 

 shyness on the approach of those who feed it, particularly if 

 carefully attended to. 



We have noticed several instances of Eagles carrying off 

 such considerable weights as children, lambs, &c., and we 

 have noticed the death of some of these larger birds by their 

 imprudent attacks upon stoats, and similar small animals; 

 but the power of wing is more decidedly shown by the fact 

 of so small a bird as the Kestrel, weighing only six ounces 

 and a half, and having an expansion of wing of only twenty- 

 seven inches, having been known to dart upon a weasel, an 

 animal its equal nearly in size and weight, and actually mount 

 aloft with it. As in the case of the Eagle, it suffered for its 

 temerity, for it had not proceeded far when both were 

 observed to fall from a considerable height. The weasel ran 

 off unhurt, but the Kestrel was found to have been killed by 

 a bite in the throat. 



The following is a strong corroboration of the truth of 

 the story just mentioned, as far as the powers of a Hawk to 

 raise comparatively heavy weights, but is more curious, as 

 exhibiting the courage displayed in one of the most timid 



