DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE SPARROW-HAWK. 177 



two being opposite one another, as far as I am able to judge, 

 along the line of the greatest diameter. It is at these two points 

 also, and these only, that I can recall having seen the bird 

 standing on the rim of the nest. It looks, therefore, as if there 

 were two special places, and two only, where the female hawk, 

 who is alone the distributor, stands either to perform this office, 

 or to rest and digest. 



I now mention that when the male had this last time delivered 

 the booty brought in by him to his partner, he made a dive 

 down amongst the foliage in the near proximity of the nest 

 where the dead Eedstart was once placed, but not, I believe, on 

 to it. I had, however, in consequence, intended to examine this 

 nest before leaving (as I have done daily, or almost daily, with- 

 out finding anything stored there), but forgot it. This is the 

 more to be regretted because the action certainly seemed the 

 outcome of some special object on the part of the bird making it, 

 and, on account of the great quickness, and, as one might say, 

 lightness of motion characteristic of the species on such occa- 

 sions — for the passing of the booty, which I could never actually 

 see, would be a very similar one — it is quite possible that some- 

 thing really was a second time placed in the nest. Why other- 

 wise such a bird as the Sparrow-Hawk should suddenly have 

 flown thus in towards the trunk of this tree, at so slight a height 

 above the ground, it is not easy to imagine. In regard to the 

 long exeat (some forty-five minutes) of the female hawk, and her 

 return at the end of it without anything, she may possibly 

 either have been foraging for herself or stretching her wings 

 merely — supposing that she did not sit all or most of the time 

 in the plantation. 



July 2nd. — In plantation about 3.30 a.m., and take up a 

 new position commanding both that part of it where the male 

 hawk usually makes his entry and also the nest. At 4.5, when 

 first able to make use of the glasses, I can only distinguish the 

 nest, but at 4.25 I see the female hawk standing on the rim of it. 

 She has been there all the time, but in the gloom I had mistaken 

 her for one of the branches amongst which it is lodged. All is 

 now quiet, the hawk so motionless, she might well be asleep, and 

 it is not till nearly 5 that I hear the cry of the male in the 

 plantation. Then in a moment or two she rouses herself, and 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. XV., Maij, 1911. p 



