Practical Game-Preserving. 386 



None but the most observant are able to study the whole 

 routine of its existence with anything like accuracy ; for, 

 except when hunting for its prey, its intense shyness and 

 wildness are far too well exercised to admit of any close 

 notice of its habits being taken. Wooded districts are 

 mostly esteemed by it, but it seems always to prefer 

 closely-cultivated lands probably as its prey is then more 

 plentiful. It hunts both in the open and in the covert, 

 preferring, of course, in the latter case, woods where the 

 trees are not sufficiently close to impede its progress, as it 

 flies, sometimes at headlong speed, at others with gentle 

 progress, in search or pursuit of any bird or other animal 

 that may be luckless enough to be descried by it. When 

 on the wing it alternates between an occasional exceedingly 

 rapid flight and a sweeping, stealthy sort of motion, 

 acquired apparently without movement of the wings. 

 Should it, thus flying, descry any kind of prey, its flight 

 is changed to a hover, and for a few seconds it scrutinises 

 the object of attention. It will, further, often select a 

 large stone, stake, tree, or such like, as resting-place, from 

 which, during its temporary suspension of operations, it 

 does not fail to keep a vigilant look-out. This feathered 

 vermin evidently prefers winged food to furred; but 

 although its chief source of sustenance is found in birds, 

 an occasional rabbit or a leveret does not come amiss. 



The nest of the pigeon hawk as it is sometimes called 

 is rarely of its own construction ; often an old nest is 

 chosen, formerly built and used by a crow, magpie, jay, 

 or a wood-pigeon, in some fir or other tree oak or ash for 

 choice; or, perhaps, a solitary jackdaw's nest in some 

 ruin or neglected house is selected, and becomes the 

 receptacle of its eggs. The sparrowhawk nests in April 

 and May. 



Kestrel. This is probably the commonest of our 



