Natural History of Ireland. 171 



the Falconidae of a larger size than those ordinarily met with, such as 

 the common buzzard (Buteo vulgaris,) &c. 



Sparrow- Hawk — Accipiter fringillarius, Will — Is common 

 in the enclosed and wooded parts of Ireland. It is certainly the 

 boldest of the British Falconidse. I have known this species to 

 be shot in a yard attached to an occupied dwelling-house in the 

 country, where it was discovered by the uproar produced among the 

 inhabitants of the dove-cot. Dr J, D. Marshall was, in October 

 1833, sent an old female sparrow-hawk, that in pursuit of a thrush 

 (Turdus musicus) followed it into a cottage in the neighbourhood of 

 Belfast, where both were secured. On some stuffed birds being placed 

 near this hawk, she dashed fiercely at them. When bent on spoliation, 

 the sparrow-hawk scruples not to enter even the church itself, as a 

 male bird was about two years since caught by the sexton in New- 

 townbreda Church (Down,) whither it had pursued some small bird, 

 I believe a robin (Sylvia rubecula.) A sparrow-hawk was once ob- 

 served by Mr R. Langtry to strike one of his sea eagles which was 

 perching on his shed ; and when his golden eagle was at liberty, he 

 has not only seen it struck by one of these birds in passing-, but was 

 once witness to the latter turning back and repeating the imperti- 

 nence. Another ornithological friend, on climbing a tree to one of 

 their nests, and when within a very few yards of it, was attacked by 

 the female bird, and his cap at one stroke sent to the ground. He 

 speedily followed it, lest the next should be on his bare head, but, re- 

 placing the cap more firmly on, he gallantly remounted to the nest, 

 which he had been in the habit almost daily of visiting, and was gra- 

 tified with a sight of the young birds that day hatched, which accounts 

 for the boldness of the parent. He describes the young as being- 

 beautiful in their first garb of snow-white down. 



I have known this species to build only in trees, in Ireland. The 

 stomachs of several specimens examined by me contained the remains 

 of birds alone. 



Kite — Milvus ictinus, Sav. — Under the name of " Kite," a 

 bird appears in many of the statistical surveys of Irish counties, 

 as well as in other catalogues of native birds, but the true Falco 

 milvus or Milvus ictinus has never been seen in Ireland, either by 

 myself or any ornithologist with whom I have communicated, nor 

 am I aware of the existence of a native specimen in any collec- 

 tion. When Ireland presented an aspect different from the present, 

 and was a well-wooded country, the Kite may have been one of our 



