DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE SPABBOW-HAWK. 61 



though the conditions of observation are not such that I can 

 positively assert that she did not. But if so, it was, I am sure, 

 quite subsidiary — she principally made her own meal, and, 

 having done so, settled herself down as before, and thus I left 

 her about 7.30 p.m. 



It is now quite evident, taking these two observations, and 

 the one of this morning, where I as good as saw the actual 

 delivery, that the male Sparrow-Hawk brings in prey, at in- 

 tervals, for the female, with which she both feeds the young, and 

 also makes her own meal, either in the nest or a tree in its 

 vicinity. It would seem as though the male did not particularly 

 like going to the neet, and that when he did do so this morning it 

 was after having in vain tried to call his partner off — she per- 

 haps having then both fed the chicks sufficiently, and not being 

 hungry herself. There was something like this on the 21st also 

 (see entry), so it is possible that the young were even then out, 

 though I did not see them fed or booty brought to the nest 

 either on that day or the next. 



June 24th. — On spot at 3.20 a.m. 



4.37. — Male into plantation. 



4.40.— Female off. 



4.42.— Female back with prey and has a meal. I could not 

 make out that she fed the chicks, but she may have done, a 

 little, after satisfying her own appetite. However, I doubt it, 

 and I did not see any of them reach up in the nest. From as 

 soon, after coming, as I could distinguish it, I had kept my eyes 

 on the nest, but had never seen the hawk leave it previous to 

 the advent of the male as stated. After her meal she settled 

 herself over the chicks, and it came on to pour with rain. At a 

 little past 6 I heard the cry of the male once only, but it did not 

 sound so near as usual, and, I think, was outside the plantation. 

 The female sat on for more than another hour, and then went 

 off without my noticing her, nor did I hear the cry of the male. 

 A minute or two afterwards, however, I heard that of the female 

 — which is not quite so sharp — at least, I think so — and at 

 7.15 she flew to the nest again with what looked like the muti- 

 lated body of a young bird — or, to speak more intelligibly, it 

 was, as ever, much smaller than I should have expected. This 

 she certainly ate herself, or at least a portion of it. There was 



