164 



THE SPARROW-HAWK. 



[Dec. 1894. 



Mice, voles, and insects are sometimes taken by this hawk. 

 Seebohm says that it is beneficial because it kills wood pigeons, 

 which are a fearful pest to the farmer in some localities. This is 

 corroborated in the evidence cited in the Report on the Protection 

 of Wild Birds of the House of Commons Committee in 1873, to 

 the effect that the wood pigeon is the natural food of the Sparrow- 

 hawk, which is the only bird that can catch it. 



Upon the whole, in view of this evidence and of the opinions 

 of several well-informed writers, and of observant countrymen, 

 on the habits of birds, the Sparrow-hawk ought not to be ruth- 

 lessly destroyed, and faruiers v/ould do well to exert their 

 influence to prevent the wholesale and indiscriminate destruc- 

 tion of this and other hawks and owls and other useful birds, as 

 well as such animals as weasels and stoats, which keep down rats, 

 mice, voles, and other vermin. 



