1907-1908.] British Birds of Prey. 25 



stupendous cliffs of Hoy and elsewhere to breed in, it will 

 baffle human ingenuity to put them down. 



The Sparrow-Hawk. 



The sparrow-hawk is the most destructive bird of prey 

 found in the low country. It sometimes knocks down its 

 victim like a falcon, and at other times skims along and 

 clutches it in the air. It also lifts it from the ground, but 

 excepting young pheasants in the rearing-field, I have never 

 seen them do this. I have, however, seen it strike down a 

 wood-pigeon like a falcon. It was flying across a field, and 

 the hawk with lightning speed dashed down on its victim. I 

 saw the hawk distinctly for a hundred yards before it struck. 

 I fear I cannot adequately describe it further than to say that 

 the hawk appeared to be the shape of a wedge, — or perhaps, 

 to use the words of Mrs Saxby, " the wings were taut as 

 sails filled with a stiff breeze." In an instant the blow was 

 struck, a cloud of feathers flew from the pigeon, and it fell 

 lifeless to the ground. At my approach the hawk flew off, 

 and on picking up the pigeon I found there was not a scratch 

 upon it beyond a blue mark along the backbone. 



My earliest recollection of the sparrow-hawk is of one 

 which carried off a pet pigeon when I was quite a boy. It 

 did not fly far with such a heavy bird, and I ran for the head 

 keeper to come and shoot it. He got a gun and started in 

 pursuit, I following in the distance. The hawk had com- 

 menced to eat the pigeon, but flew off before the keeper could 

 get within range, carrying its prey along with it. It soon 

 settled, but flew off again on the keeper's approach. Again it 

 settled, and this time the keeper managed to get within range, 

 when it fell with a broken wing. It was the first time I had 

 seen a hawk, and running up I found it lying on its back. 

 Putting down my hand to lift it, in an instant it fastened 

 its talons deep in my flesh, and since then I have been careful 

 to keep a wounded hawk at a respectful distance. Cunning 

 and wary as the sparrow-hawk may be, I have known them 

 more than once commit suicide by flying against a plate-glass 

 window in which an avenue of trees was reflected : along such 

 an avenue hawks are often seen to skim. 



