NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 105 



each end with small red spots, and surrounded in the 

 middle with a broad bloody zone. 



The hen-bird was shot, and answered exactly to Mr. 

 Ray's description of that species ; had a black cere, short 

 thick legs, and a long tail. When on the wing this species 

 may be easily distinguished from the common buzzard by 

 its hawk-like appearance, small head, wings not so blunt, 

 and longer tail. This specimen contained in its craw some 

 limbs of frogs and many grey snails without shells. The 

 irides of the eyes of this bird were of a beautiful bright 

 yellow colour. 



About the 10th of July in the same summer a pair of 

 sparrow-hawks bred in an old crow's nest on a low beech 

 in the same hanger ; and as their brood, which was 

 numerous, began to grow up, became so daring and 

 ravenous, that they were a terror to all the dames in the 

 village that had chickens or ducklings under their care. 

 A boy climbed the tree, and found the young so fledged 

 that they all escaped from him ; but discovered that a good 

 house had been kept : the larder was well-stored with 

 provisions ; for he brought down a young blackbird, jay, 

 and house-martin, all clean-picked, and some half devoured. 

 The old birds had been observed to make sad havoc for 

 some days among the new-flown swallows and martins, 

 which, being but lately out of their nests, had not acquired 

 those powers and command of wing that enable them, 

 when more mature, to set such enemies at defiance. 



