BIRDS' NESTS. 89 



seen chaffinches and tits come and perch in the 

 same tree with him. and hop about from branch 

 to branch as if he were one of themselves/' 



" I have observed the same thing," said 

 Mr. Miller, " and do not know how to account 

 for it. Your hawk is a kestril, not nearly so 

 cunning a bird as the sparrow-hawk, which is 

 the one hustled by the swallows. Perhaps the 

 little birds only know their enemy w r hen he is 

 flying ; but your bird cannot fly at all, because 

 one of his wings is cut ; or perhaps they do not 

 see him, and he, knowing that he cannot fly, 

 does not attempt to chase them. Some orni- 

 thologists say that the kestril lives on mice 

 and beetles, and never kills birds ; but others 

 say they have seen them pounce on birds. 

 1 must confess that I am inclined to agree 

 with the last, for your hawk picks off the 

 feathers of the small birds we give him, quite 

 as if he was following a natural habit." 



" But we have talked enough about birds 

 for the present, so now for lessons/' 



