DESERTED HOMES. 153 



stone-quarry I found the nest I was in search of, 

 in one of two Scotch firs perched on a great heap of 

 gravel and stone debris of the moor. The work of 

 ages had worn and washed away all the softer parts 

 that had once joined this mass. There was the 

 detached mound or heap about the size of any 

 ordinary house, with the two firs that stood out 

 like landmarks upon it, for on the open side of the 

 moor they could be seen seven miles away. A long 

 tramp it had been to see the deserted nest of a 

 sparrow-hawk, or we might say of a pair of hawks ; 

 but this is a sight not to be seen very often, 

 especially a nest that has been used and repaired 

 year after year as this had been. 



When the young birds are well on the wing, and 

 have been taught by their parents to forage for 

 themselves, they are driven away by the old birds. 

 This is the rule with all the Raptores. Sometimes a 

 squirrel-drey or nest forms part of their foundation. 

 Then, again, the squirrel will use the forsaken nest 

 of the sparrow-hawk for the same purpose. Some 

 nests get forsaken for good ; others are only deserted 

 for a time, until the nesting season comes round 

 again. 



