Dec. 1894.] 



THE SPARROW-HAWK, 



163 



The Sparrow-hawk (Acdpiter Nisus). 



containing five young Sparrovz-hawks, he found a lapwing, two 

 blackbirds, a thrush, and two green linnets, all recently killed 

 and partly divested of their feathers. It is the natural habit of 

 the Sparrow-hawk to hunt for food towards dusk, when young- 

 partridges are safe under the hen, and young pheasants are in 

 their coops, or under their foster mothers, though when a pair have 

 young in their nest they hunt early and late. At this time, 

 without doubt, they take young game birds, and are a cause of 

 considerable anxiety to game-keepers who have young birds in 

 their vicinity. 



B 2 



