62 THE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



p. 33 — and elsewhere), to the effect that the Sparrow-hawk 

 " generally makes use of the nest of the Crow or some other 

 large bird in which to rear its ravenous brood." Mr. Borrer 

 states (" Birds of Sussex," p. 13) in reference to the point in 

 question, "It is said to construct its own nest, but, like the 

 Kestrel, it is partial to the old ones of the Carrion-Crow or 

 Magpie ; " Mr. Muirhead (" Birds of Berwickshire," i., p. 314), 

 that " sometimes " the eggs " are deposited in the deserted nest 

 of a Magpie or Crow; " Hewitson ("Eggs of British Birds," 

 ed. 4, i., p. 35), that "for the most part " the eggs are to be 

 found "occupying the usurped nest of a Crow or Magpie;" 

 Mr. Dresser (" Birds of Europe," v., p. 627), that " the 

 Sparrow-hawk prepares its nest in April, and either builds 

 it itself or makes use of a deserted Crow's nest ; " Mr. 

 Howard Saunders ("Manual," p. 324), that "this species 

 usually builds its own nest .... sometimes, however, 

 it adapts and adds to the deserted abode of a Crow, Wood- 

 pigeon, or other bird ; " and Yarrell (" British Birds," ed. 4, 

 i., p. 89), that it "generally builds its own nest, but often 

 takes possession of that of some other bird, generally a 

 Crow." 



Amongst (according to Mr. Davenport) " not a few writers " 

 who " take their stand upon an unconditional assertion alleg- 

 ing that the species never appropriates, but always erects a 

 nest for itself," only three* find a place on my shelves ; of 

 whom one (the late Mr. Seebohm, " British Birds," i., p. 138) 

 Mr. Davenport has saved me the necessity of quoting. Mr. 

 W. E. Clarke writes of the species : — " It deposits its eggs in 

 a nest of its own construction, contrary to the statements of 

 some authorities, who aver that a deserted nest is usually 

 selected ; this is very rarely the case, and indeed when it 

 happens is an exception to a very general rule " (" Trans. 

 Yorks. Nat. Union," Ser. B., p. 25). The third writer, Mr. 

 F. S. Mitchell, has the following : — " It almost invariably 

 builds a nest for itself, and returns to the same every year ; 



* I thiuk Mr. Davenport will not require me to place under this heading 

 Lord Lilford, who states (" Birds of Northamptonshire," i., p. 28) : — "The 

 Sparrow -hawk generally, I think, builds a nest for itself." 



