62 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



a crow's, or in a squirrel's abandoned drey. The 



sparrow-hawk builds its own nest, as a rule, of rough 



sticks, with twigs as lining, usually placed 



When near the tree's trunk. It will return to 



|4 O "117" If O 



Nest " tne same nest year after year. But at 

 times the nest of a wood-pigeon is adopted, 

 or of a carrion crow. The cock sparrow-hawk 

 is a polite mate, perhaps of necessity, being so 

 inferior to the hen bird in size and strength. He is 

 energetic in inspecting nest-sites, in advance of his 

 mate. This habit has proved fatal to many, for it is 

 a favourite plan with some keepers to place a circu- 

 lar gin in likely nests a cruel trick, and illegal, for 

 the law which prohibits the use of the pole-traps 

 forbids also that traps shall be set in nests. Faithful 

 as are hawks and magpies to each other, it is strange 

 how swiftly a new mate is secured should an old one 

 suffer a fatal accident. In the earlier part of the 

 breeding season, a hen sparrow-hawk may lose her 

 mate time after time ; yet a new mate is quickly at 

 her side, though no other hawks are to be seen about 

 the country, except those in pairs. 



The little blue pigeons, the stock-doves, call " Coo- 

 oop, coo-oop, coo-oop," all day, in the old elms in the 

 meadow, or high among the massed twigs of the 

 lime. Pigeons and doves are fantastical love-makers 

 like several other birds the blackcock and cock 





