DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE SPABROW-HAWK. 47 



was the case yesterday, I did not see the slightest sign of the 

 partner bird. 



June 1st. — A very long and weary watching of the bird on 

 the nest, nearly from 3.30 p.m. to about 7.15 p.m. It flew off, 

 once, on my arrival — seeing me — and was away about a quarter 

 of an hour. On returning it brought nothing back with it, but 

 at once settled itself, as though upon the eggs, and was there 

 till I went. As before, there was no sign of the male (assuming 

 the one I have been watching to be the female), except that 

 once a bird that I could not identify settled in a tree near me, 

 and then, seeing me, instantly flew on. This bird looked — it was 

 no more than a glance — of the hawk tribe, but was too small, as 

 I thought, even for the male of the one on the nest. 



June 6th. — Kose at 2.30 a.m., and got to the little dark 

 plantation about 3.30, so that I was able to steal through it 

 to a tree from which the nest is visible without alarming the 

 bird upon it, then, very possibly, asleep, since it was not till a 

 little while afterwards that I could see the time by my watch 

 clearly. 



At 4.10 I saw the bird go silently off the nest, which (con- 

 jugally speaking) was left empty, no partner arriving just before 

 or just after. At 5.5 she returned (supposing it to have been 

 the same bird), and, from her actions, certainly seemed to be 

 feeding the young ; for she bent down her head, and did this 

 more than once without settling upon it. In regard to the actual 

 delivery of anything, however, I could make nothing out, till at 

 last, in stooping her head again, she turned towards me, and I 

 all at once saw something which she appeared to me to disgorge 

 — what I cannot say, but I had the momentary impression 

 of some dull-hued substance. A good while before this I had 

 seen the pair of hawks in the coppice, between whom there was 

 some action, one flying to the other, amongst the trees, and both 

 uttering their squeaking cry, which seemed to me sometimes 

 more and sometimes less shrill, as though there might be a 

 difference in this respect between the sexes. It was the male, I 

 think — the one, that is to say, that I have not yet seen on the 

 nest — that, either before or after the other went to it — I think 

 after — flew at a Squirrel which was evidently considered to be 

 too near that sanctum, and drove it away. After the female had 



