66 falconidjE. 



lence as to raise a cloud of dust. It rolled over the body several 

 times, — measuring, at least, half the breadth of the road, — before 

 recovering itself. It is not, therefore, surprising that tins species 

 should sometimes fall a victim to its temerity. On the ] 2th of 

 August, 1847, an adult male was killed by flying against one of 

 the windows of Belfast College, about seven o'clock in the evening. 

 It was seen by some of the boys outside of the building, to strike 

 against, and break the window, in pursuit of a small bird, which, 

 however, by some means escaped. The porter, hearing the crash 

 of glass, hurried instantly to the room, and found the hawk on 

 the floor perfectly dead. The taxidermist who skinned it, looked 

 particularly to ascertain the cause of death, but no injury what- 

 ever was apparent, except that a globule of blood was seen 

 through the skull, upon the brain : the skull itself was quite 

 whole. The bird had evidently died of concussion of the brain. 



Efforts of its intended victims to escape. — Rarely is there any 

 possibility of escape for the poor victims. But I remember once 

 being astonished at the quickness with which a flock of sparrows 

 dashed into the midst of a thick hedge, on the appearance of one 

 of these hawks, the swiftness of whose flight seemed as if it must 

 have secured him one of them. The sparrows, however, having 

 timely perceived their enemy's approach, contrived to save them- 

 selves.* 



* The following occurrence, though not happening on Irish ground, was witnessed 

 by so accurate an observer, Wm, Ogilby, Esq., that I cannot resist introducing it 

 here: — " I once," he remarks (about the year 1832), "had an opportunity, from on 

 board a Ramsgate steamer, of witnessing a curious pursuit of a thrush by a sparrow- 

 hawk. We were off the North Foreland at the time : the thrush was, when first 

 seen, a considerable way ahead of her pursuer, and making vigorous efforts to gain 

 the woods which surround the seat of Mr. Alexander, near Broadstairs ; the hawk 

 was evidently bent on forcing her out to sea, for which purpose, instead of flying 

 directly at the thrush, he kept close in along shore, always heading her, and thus 

 effectually cutting off her retreat. This lasted for a considerable time, till at length 

 the thrush, wearied with flying, and probably despairing of reaching the wood, 

 wheeled suddenly round, and made directly for the steamer. The hawk dashed boldly 

 and rapidly after her, and was with some difficulty prevented from pouncing on his 

 victim even when perched on the foremast. Baffled in this attempt, he retreated to 

 the woods on shore. The thrush accompanied us for some time, and supposing the 

 coast clear, at length flew off to the woods. Her enemy, who no doubt kept his eye 

 on her all the time, permitted her to come within a short distance before showing 

 himself ; but I had finally the mortification of seeing the poor thrush fall a victim to 

 his cunning and prowess." 



