226 BIRD BEHAVIOUR 



short-sighted, because he had observed it does not 

 seem to see birds in a hedge at a hundred yards' 

 distance, and does not attack except at a range of 

 a few yards. The obvious criticism on this, how- 

 ever, is that the Sparrow-Hawk, like other birds of 

 prey, does not waste time and strength in attempt- 

 ing attacks which have no reasonable prospect of 

 success ; its strategy is mainly one of surprises, for 

 though capable of very great speed for a short 

 dash, it is not suited for a long pursuit. It there- 

 fore pays no attention to birds which it does' not 

 consider favourably placed for attack. 



Fhave seen behaviour in Kites in Calcutta which 

 exactly suggests this. The Kite has no speed at 

 all, but can execute a very successful surprise 

 stoop, snatching food even from a man in a most 

 disconcerting manner. I have seen one of these 

 birds, passing with the slow flapping flight which it 

 employs when travelling at a low elevation of about 

 the height of the house-tops, evidently meditating 

 an attack on a Dabchick and her young on the 

 Calcutta Museum tank. The thought in the Kite's 

 mind was obvious, as it hung on its wings for a 

 moment over the little group ; but " chip, chip," 

 went the Dabchick which ordinarily never bothered 

 about Kites beginning to " go down by the bows " 

 in preparation for a dive, her downy young imitat- 

 ing her, evidently reading the enemy's intentions ; 

 and the enemy's comprehension of the hopelessness 

 of the situation was equally complete, for the 

 poising was but momentary, and the Kite flapped 



