HAWKS. ] 65 



its wings while fluttering, but still so near, as to 

 render it impossible for any Hawk to reach the 

 Sparrow without touching the lime-twigs. The use 

 of the white cloth is merely to attract the attention 

 of the Hawk to the Sparrow at a greater distance. 

 The lime-twigs must be placed so lightly in the 

 ground, that if the Hawk, on finding himself en- 

 tangled, should struggle, they would still adhere to 

 his feathers, and rise with him into the air if he 

 took flight, for 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 boldness. We 

 knew 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 bleeding 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 



