VOL. vTiL] NOTES. 147 



particularize the spot, more especially as it is to be hoped 

 that the Furze-Wrens may permanently establish themselves 

 there, if indeed they have not already done so. So far as 

 I could tell, as the result of six hours' search, only one bird 

 was in evidence. Reginald Hudson. 



FOOD OF SPARROW-HAWKS AND METHOD OF 

 FEEDING YOUNG. 



I CAN confirm all that Dr. Penrose and Mr. Heatley Noble 

 write {antea pp. 98-100, 119) abovxt the food of Sparrow-Hawks 

 and the methods in which it is delivered to the young. 



For over forty years^ we have never disturbed any Sparrow- 

 Hawks' nests on the Hever or Stonewall Estates (Kent), and 

 I do not think we have had to destroy more than half a dozen 

 old hens for depredations done in the rearing-field. The 

 harmless Kestrel (for I believe it is almost entirely harmless 

 to ivild game) is often far more troublesome in the rearing- 

 tield than the vast majority of Sparrow-Hawks. The 

 tinie of year and methods of hunting are conducive to this. 

 The Kestrel breeds early when food is comparatively 

 scarce and there is not much cover in the fields. 



The coops with young Pheasants are put out early in May, 

 the young wander about in the short grass, the foster-mother 

 can only see straight before her, and cannot give warning 

 to her brood, which depend on her for protection. A Kestrel 

 hanging in the air, it may be quite a long way off, sees those 

 tempting morsels and comes in with a long slanting stoop 

 (I have often seen him do it) and picks one up. He finds it 

 so easy that he comes again and will continue to do so until 

 stopped. It is always the cock which is the culprit : the hen 

 is sitting or has small young. Later in the season one 

 rarely has any trouble with a Kestrel — food is abundant. 

 Mice are exposed by the mowing machines, etc., and there 

 are plenty of cockchafers and young finches, etc. The 

 opportunity to take the young of tvild game does not occur 

 to the Kestrel as his method of hanging in the air " gives 

 him away " to every mother with a brood, and she keeps 

 the young motionless until the coast is clear. 



The Sparrow-Hawk, breeding late in the year, hatches 

 its young when food is most abiindant and easily procured. 

 Until the young are strong enough to pull up their own food 

 the cock does the whole of the foraging, the hen waiting by 

 the nest or on it. The quality of the food brought by the 

 male can be easily proved by the feathers left rovind the 

 plucking places. There are generally two or three of these 



