208 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
out of the way ; indeed the depredations at the Pheasant 
coops render such a step imperative, and the keeper is 
justified in thus protecting his own interests. 
It is now weU known that this bird buUds its own nest, 
or reconstructs the old nest of a Pigeon or Crow for its 
own use ; and though it is beUeved to pair for hfe, it is 
remarkable, if one of a pair be killed, how often the survivor 
speedily finds another mate. 
The boldness of the Sparrow-Hawk in attacking cage- 
birds has been frequently noticed ; and in this connection 
the foUowmg may be quoted : " A few days ago a Sparrow 
Hawk . darted against a half open window of a house 
in High Street (Dumfries), drew the head of a favourite 
canary through the wires of his cage, held the grip with 
all the force of a smith's vice, and busied itself with picking 
out the eyes and brains. The mistress ... of the family 
hurried to the spot ... and in the first burst of emotion 
seized the intruder and dashed it to the ground with such 
force that it instantly expired."* On September 2nd, 1908, 
a male Sparrow-Hawk fearlessly stooped at a Partridge 
I had just shot, and which lay within forty yards of me; 
an act of temerity which should have cost him his hfe. 
Mr J T Johnstone writes me from Moffat : " Mrs. Hood, 
photographer here, on entering her studio one day recently, 
found a Sparrow-Hawk in possession and the remams ot a 
Sparrow on which it had evidently been feeding ihe 
Hawk having been captured, was photographed and then 
given its Uberty." , -r n 4.-„„ 
A very pale variety, obtained from the Jardine coUection 
in 1854, is now in Mr. J. H. Gumey's possession ; but it is 
not known if this specimen is of local origin. 
Our birds of prey have been sadly reduced, and tne 
Sparrow-Hawk still goes unprotected by the Wild Birds 
Protection Acts. It is left therefore to game-preservers 
to see that this species is kept in check, but not, it is 
sincerely to be hoped, exterminated. 
* Morning Chronicle, July 14th, 1836. 
