The Sparrow-Hawk, 125 



a finch which it carries a little distance, and then settles upon the ground to 

 devour, first plucking off most of the feathers, and leaving them in a neat little 

 heap to testify to the fact that it has here lately enjoyed a meal. Often the 

 Sparrow-Hawk will be viewed dashing into a confused flock of small birds in the 

 air, especially in the neighbourhood of a rick-yard, seizing one and bearing it 

 away. Great is the anger of the Swallows when one of them becomes the victim, 

 they will mob and chase the tyrant with shrill angry cries. Often, too, will the 

 Sparrow-Hawk drop like a thunder-bolt from the sky upon a Thrush feeding upon 

 the lawn ; there will be a shrill scream, and in an instant, before there is any 

 possibility of rescue, it is snatched up and carried away. The Blackbird is a 

 favourite quarry, vain is it for him to attempt his usual method of escape by 

 darting into some thick hedge or coppice, the Hawk will follow in all his windings 

 and cannot be shaken off. Still larger game is sought ; Wood-Pigeons are struck 

 off their perches on the trees, while the feathers left on the ground beneath will 

 show where they have been devoured. Some moors below the writer's house in 

 Wales were regularl}' worked by Sparrow-Hawks for Snipe, and most of them 

 were killed as the}- dropped in. Merlins were at first regarded as the aggressors, 

 but the Snipe feathers found upon the ground at one particular spot to which 

 they were carried to be eaten, and a cock Sparrow-Hawk put off one morning 

 from a Snipe still living that he reluctantly quitted, made it unquestionable who 

 the Snipe destroyers were. Young Partridges and Pheasants are often carried off 

 and, at the time the young are to be provided for, the hen Sparrow-Hawk is 

 certainl}^ the most deadl}' foe to game of all the British raptores. Tame Pigeons 

 are common victims, the robber will return for them again and again, as long as 

 any are left in the dove-cotes. Many a Sparrow-Hawk has met its death by 

 dashing against a plate- glass window attracted b}^ a Canary hanging up in its 

 cage inside. Wild and untameable as is this feathered Ishmaelite, falconers have 

 trained and used him to take Partridges, Quail, Blackbirds, and other small birds ; 

 the writer once attempted this difficult task ; with a long leash attached to the 

 Hawk's leg a few flights were obtained, but nothing further achieved. The 

 Sparrow-Hawk dreads no foe, and will attack an3^thing ; one da}- when the writer 

 was feeding a fine Falcon upon his wrist, a little cock Sparrow-Hawk seated close 

 by upon a bow-perch suddenly darted up, and, the length of his leash allowing 

 it, seized the Falcon round her throat with his long feet, and would speedil}- have 

 throttled her had she not been rescued from his tenacious grasp with some diffi- 

 cl^lt3^ Frequently this bold Hawk will swoop dov.m and pick up birds that have 

 been shot almost at the sportsman's feet ; this has happened to the writer more 

 than once when he has been pursuing Plovers and Sandpipers upon the shore. 



