192 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



"picked up dead"; but I suppose my apparent acquiescence in bis 

 assertion appeared somewhat sceptical, as he assured me in very 

 emphatic language he was quite ignorant of how the bird came by its 

 death. It evidently had been dead some time, and exposure to the rain 

 that had recently fallen had not improved its appearance, but other- 

 wise both in body and plumage it was in very fair condition. I 

 skinned it, and found there were no bruises or marks of any kind — 

 either trap or shots — upon any part of the body, and in its stomach 

 were the remains of a small bird, the head and leg of a Meadow-Pipit 

 indicating what these remains were. From the throat of the Harrier 

 a white paste-like substance had exuded, and tbis had rather injured 

 the appearance of the cbaracteristic Owl-like ruff around the face ; 

 but it seemed to me the best part of the plumage was the splendid tail, 

 with its conspicuous bars of brown and buffish white, most aptly 

 applied to the old name of "Ringtail." Is it possible the death of the 

 bird was caused by natural poisoning, or are birds liable to any form 

 of apoplexy? Judging from what I once saw of a Peregrine Falcon 

 (which doubtless had been poisoned), the Harrier's death was not from 

 the same cause, as its legs and bare spaces about the beak were 

 as bright as in life, whilst the corresponding parts of the Falcon were 

 changed to a pale livid green ; but this might have arisen from a 

 different poisoning. — G. B. Corbin (Ringwood, Hants). 



A Small Sparrow-Hawk (Accipiternisus). — In March last a poultry- 

 keeper, having lost several of her early chickens, blamed Weasel or 

 Rat as tbe thief, tbough she had seen neither quadruped in the vicinity ; 

 but one day, when watching the brood, she saw a bird dash, like "a 

 bolt from the blue," into the midst of them, with such impetus that, 

 striking its head against a log of wood lying near, its skull was frac- 

 tured, which caused its death. This proved to be a male Sparrow- 

 Hawk, and was the smallest and least in weight I had ever seen. The 

 lengtb of wing from carpal joint to point of longest quill was not much 

 less than ordinary, but from head to tail it measured barely ten and a 

 quarter inches, and its weight was only three and a half ounces, 

 altbough in very fair condition. He was a handsome little fellow, the 

 breast and thighs having wider rufous bars, the back and tail more 

 tinged with brown than is usually the case, but destitute of the reddish 

 tint so often diffusing the under parts at this season — are tbese marks 

 of immaturity ? — the whole plumage was bright and clean, except the 

 much battered head. I recollect a somewbat similar incident. When 

 in the forest I once saw a Sparrow-Hawk chasing a Green Wood- 

 pecker, and dashing itself with such force against an oak-tree as to fall 



