38 NATURAL HISTORY [Birds. 



times chickens, which it darts from the air upon, and snatches 

 in an instant, seldom missing its prey. 



Species 8. The Sparrow-Hawk. 



Wil Orn. 86. Rail Syn. Av. 18. Falco Nisus, Lin. Sys. 130. Brit. Zool. 



151. Sib. Scot. 15. 



THIS little mischievous species is found very common in 

 our sea-rocks, as well as in the precipices of the hills, where it 

 defends its nest with great spirit against all intruders. I lately 

 saw a battle between one of this species and the short-eared 

 owl, which began by the latter approaching too near the 

 hawk's dominions. The hawk had visibly the better, notwith- 

 standing the superior bulk of the other ; every stroke he gave 

 the owl made him scream out, while he nimbly avoided all 

 harm from his clumsier enemy, and who in the end was ob- 

 liged to withdraw, and leave him the calm possession of what 

 they fought for. 



This species, as well as the next, makes vast havock among 

 pigeons ; I have observed it light among a flock, and drive 

 them all several ways, seldom missing one or other of them. 

 It, too, makes great destruction among the smaller birds, 

 coursing them through the air like a little hound, and, how 

 soon it gets a proper opportunity, one stroke finishes the 

 contest ; but this is so severe, that a gentleman told me he 

 observed one of this species knock down one of his pigeons, 



