SCIENCE-GOSSir. 



1 27 



THE SPARROW-HAWK. 

 By Harry !•' V\ 1 1 herby 



/'■ >t 



Sparrow-Hawks and Nest. 



\J. JYL were standing one hot summer's day on 

 v v the skirts of a pine forest, intently watching 

 a spotted woodpecker at work on a neighbouring 

 tree, when suddenly there appeared beyond the 

 woodpecker a dark object which looked like a 

 ball or stone hurled through the air. Rapidly it 

 increased in size, and as it approached and became 

 more distinct we saw that it was a sparrow-hawk 

 which, with closed wings, was coming with the 

 swiftness of an arrow straight for the woodpecker. 

 Quite ignorant of the near approach of its 

 formidable foe, the woodpecker was busily pecking 

 at the bark of the tree in search of the insects 

 which form its daily food, but when the hawk was 

 within a yard of the unconscious bird, it suddenly 

 stopped its headlong career by gracefully spreading 

 its wings, and gliding past its intended victim, 

 was soon lost to sight over the trees. We can only 

 imagine that it saw us just before it reached the 

 bird, or, more probably, that it thought the feat too 

 risky to snap its prey off the trunk without damage 

 to itself. At all events the woodpecker was saved, 

 and when we looked back to the spot where it was 

 clinging a moment before, it had disappeared and 

 we saw it no more. 



The sparrow-hawk may more often be seen in 

 the open than in the woods. It glides swiftly 

 along the hedgerows, darting from one side to the 

 other through a gap or over a gate, and woe betide 

 any bird or rabbit the hawk surprises. With 

 unerring aim it darts at its victim, transfixing it 

 with its deadly talons, and should its prey endeavour 

 to seek safety in flight, it is immediately overtaken 

 and struck down. Sometimes the hawk does 

 not at first find its quarry ; then it will often 

 abruptly check its rapid flight, and alighting 

 on some neighbouring bough, it stands erect 

 and motionless. Soon the little birds, which 

 have hitherto kept hidden and silent in the hedge 

 for fear of their enemy, begin to chirp and Hit 

 about, but the sparrow-hawk which is intently 

 watching, marks one out from the flock, and suddenly 

 hurls itself at it like a stone from a catapult, never 

 failing to strike its mark. Sometimes as it glides 

 over the top of a hedge it will hover for a moment 

 as though suspended in the air, seemingly not quite 

 sure if it were a bird or twig that it caught sighl 

 of in the hedge below. When chasing its prey 

 this hawk is very bold and persistent, often dashing 

 after some small bird into the thickest part of a 



