162 LAND BIRDS 



aging in some way to convey it to a perch before eating. 

 Of man he has little fear, building his nest in a tree near 

 to human habitation, and paying little attention to any- 

 thing but his own hunting. 



His call is a sharp, high " killy-killy-killy," uttered as 

 he flies over his prey, and has given him the nickname of 

 "Killy Hawk." He is also called "Mouse Hawk" in 

 some sections, from his habit of preying upon field mice. 



Early in April the Sparrow Hawk looks about for a 

 place in which to set up housekeeping. Sometimes it is 

 an old magpie's nest that pleases him best, sometimes 

 a kingfisher's hole in the bank of a river, sometimes 

 a snug crevice in a ^vall of rock, but usually he chooses 

 the deserted excavation of a woodpecker, or a natural 

 cavity in a sycamore tree. No nest is made, but on the . 

 unlined surface of the cavity the four or five speckled 

 eggs are laid. Incubation lasts twenty-three to twenty- 

 six days, and the young remain six weeks in the nest. 



For the first week the nestlings are fed exclusively on 

 insects ; after that, insects predominate in the nursery 

 menu, although mice are brought several times a day. 

 After leaving the nest they are fed in the tree, for a 

 week or so, before they try to hunt for themselves. The 

 first lesson is very interesting to watch. One of the 

 adults brings a bit of food to the youngster, who is sit- 

 ting on the perch where for several days he has been 

 fed, and instead of giving it to him, lets it fall in full 

 view, at the same time calling " killy-killy-killy." In 

 nearly every case the young hawk springs after it with- 

 out hesitation the first time this is tried, and he often 



