VOL vTii.] NOTES ON THE SPARROW-HAWK. 195 



They probably use the nest as a feeding-place, partly 

 for reasons of safety. 



I have personally never seen Partridge, Pheasant, 

 or chick brought to the nest, or seen remains of either 

 at any nest I have watched, or at a dining-table. On 

 the other hand, I have known young hens take very 

 large Pheasants along rides and eat them where they 

 killed them. Last April on an island in a large pool, 

 I found the remains of three Teal that had evidently 

 been eaten by Sparrow-Hawlcs. The same day I saw 

 a cock Sjjarrow-Hawk dash at a Teal that was coming 

 to the pool. The Teal went headlong into the nearest 

 rushes, and when it reached them the Hawk was barely 

 a yard behind it. This is especially interesting as the 

 Sparrow-Hawk usually leaves a bird passing over water. 

 At the same time, I have known one pick up a young 

 Moorhen as it swam across an open pool. I have 

 only once seen a Sparrow-Hawk with a Wood-Pigeon ; 

 it was trying to carry the Pigeon (a young one about 

 three months old) away, but could not get far at each 

 attempt. The Pigeon was not dead, and I went to 

 examine it, and found it horribly mutilated on the back 

 and neck, and with one eye out. In most of the woods 

 round Felsted I find skeletons of Wood-Pigeons clean- 

 picked by Sparrow-Hawks, sometimes right under the 

 nests, as if the Hawk had been unable to lift the bird 

 to the nest. I think these must be wounded Pigeons, 

 finished off by the Hawks. I have also known Sparrow- 

 Hawks take Turtle-Doves, Partridges, Great and Lesser 

 Spotted Woodpeckers, and Cuckoos, besides many 

 common smaller birds. 



