1 66 HAWKS. 



carrying off such considerable weights as children, 

 lambs, &c., and we have noticed the death of some 

 of these larger birds by their imprudent attacks 

 upon stoats, and similar small animals; but the 

 power of wing is more decidedly shown by the fact 

 of so small a bird as the Kestrel, weighing only six 

 ounces and a half, and having an expansion of wing 

 of only twenty-seven inches, having been known to 

 dart upon a weasel, an animal its equal, nearly, in 

 size and weight, and actually mount aloft with it. 

 As in the case of the Eagle, it suffered for its 

 temerity, for it had not proceeded far, when both 

 were observed to fall from a considerable height. 

 The weasel ran off unhurt, but the Kestrel was 

 found to have been killed by a bite in the throat. 



The following is a strong corrob oration of the 

 truth of the story just mentioned, as far as the 

 powers of a Hawk to raise comparatively heavy 

 weights, but is more curious, as exhibiting the cou- 

 rage displayed in one of the most timid animals, in 

 defence of its young. It occurred in Yorkshire. 

 In the spring, a gentleman walking in the fields saw 

 a small Hawk, attempting to fly off with some prey 

 it had just pounced upqn, but evidently prevented 

 by the weight of its capture from rising to any 

 height above the ground. It was pursued by a hare, 

 which whenever it came within her reach, attacked 

 it with her paws, and at last succeeded in knocking 

 it down, when it dropped its prey. At this moment 

 the gentleman ran forward, and the Hawk and its 

 pursuer both made their retreat; upon his reaching 

 the spot where the prey had been dropped, he found 

 it to be a fine leveret, which at once explained the 



