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 wall 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 



