226 BIRD BEHAVIOUR 



short-sighted, because he had observed it does not 

 seem to see birds in a hedge at a hundred yards' 

 distance, and does not attack except at a range of 

 a few yards. The obvious criticism on this, how- 

 ever, is that the Sparrow-Hawk, Uke other birds of 

 prey, does not waste time and strength in attempt- 

 ing attacks which have no reasonable prospect of 

 success ; its strategy is mainly one of surprises, for 

 though capable of very great speed for a short 

 dash, it is not suited for a long pursviit. It there- 

 fcAe pays no attention to birds which it does not 

 consider favourably placed for attack. 



I have seen behaviour in Kites in Calcutta which 

 exactly suggests this. The Kite has no speed at 

 all, but can execute a very successful surprise 

 stoop, snatching food even from a man in a most 

 disconcerting manner. I have seen one of these 

 birds, passing with the slow flapping flight which it 

 employs when travelling at a low elevation of about 

 the height of the house-tops, evidently meditating 

 an attack on a Dabchick and her young on the 

 Calcutta Museum tank. The thought in the Kite's 

 mind was obvious, as it hung on its wings for a 

 moment over the little group ; but " chip, chip," 

 went the Dabchick — ^which ordinarily never bothered 

 about Kites — beginning to " go down by the bows " 

 in preparation for a dive, her downy yq;ting imitat- 

 ing her, evidently reading the enemy's intentions; 

 and the enemy's comprehension of the hopelessness 

 of the situation was equally complete, for the 

 poising was but momentary, and the Kite flapped 



