136 BRITISH BIRDS. 



across the continent up to the Arctic circle, where I shot it both in the 

 valley of the Petchora and that of the Yenesay ; and Middendorff found it 

 common on the Stanavoi Mountains, near the Pacific coast. It is found in 

 Japan and China, in the latter country at least as far south as Canton ; 

 occurring throughout India in the cold season, a few birds breeding in 

 the wooded valleys of the Himalayas. 



The Sparrow-Hawk does not vary very much. Western examples, espe- 

 cially those from the British Islands and the Canaries, are a little darker 

 and browner than those from the east. In the Himalayas a resident semi- 

 tropical race appears, A. melanoschistus, a decidedly darker bird, especially 

 on the head, and apparently rather more boldly spotted in the young in 

 first plumage. In all probability this local race is only subspecifically 

 distinct. Nearly allied but perfectly distinct species to the Sparrow- 

 Hawk are found both in the Old and New Worlds. 



From the nature of his food, the Sparrow-Hawk is seldom found in the 

 wildest districts ; there his place is taken by the Merlin. His haunt is the 

 lowland woods and coppices or the fir-clumps on the borders of the moor- 

 lands-^ the rich well-cultivated lands on which game abounds, interspersed 

 with woods and plantations : this is the Sparrow-Hawk's favourite home, 

 where the food of his choice is found in great abundance. Although 

 he frequently takes his station on the ground, or more often on a tree or 

 fence, or on a stone wall or rock-ledge, using these situations as points 

 of observation, the air is his province, and his flight in some respects 

 stands almost unrivalled amongst birds. When seeking his food he flies 

 down the wood-side, silently and swiftly gliding along just above the 

 ground. If he sees you as he passes, with incredible speed he swerves into 

 the cover, threading his way amongst the tangled network of branches 

 gracefully and unharmed, to emerge a little distance further down and 

 pursue his search as before. Often he will tarry for a moment above a 

 clump of wild roses or brambles : mayhap a Robin is there ; but he hops 

 into cover in time to cheat his enemy. Onwards again flies the Sparrow- 

 Hawk, now bounding over a fence, now gliding rapidly down the side of 

 the cover, shooting and turning from side to side, or ever and anon rising 

 in a beautiful curve over a hedge, scanning its further side, then back 

 again. Perhaps a Thrush is started, and the relentless Hawk pursues it ; 

 but the Thrush is often too quick, or the Hawk mayhap is not hungry ; for 

 it gains a thick bush and its pursuer passes on, to sweep lightly upwards 

 and perch on some decaying ivy-grown stump, standing erect and motion- 

 less, surveying the ground around him. Again he takes the air, leisurely 

 at first, but with a quick swerve to the left, descending as he goes, he 

 strikes a small bird, sitting quite unconscious of danger on a topmost twig, 

 and bears it off in an instant into the wood from which he emerged but a 

 short half-hour before. The amazing swiftness with which the Sparrow- 



