63 
THE SPARROW-HAWK. 
Accipiter nisus, Linn, (sp.) 
Falco ,, ,, 
Is common, at all seasons, throughout the enclosed and 
wooded parts of Ireland.* 
In such localities, we are often attracted by this beautiful 
creature, — with the exception of the kestrel, the most common 
of the Ealconidse, — sweeping in silence past us, in a flight equally 
characterized by power and elegance. Approaching silently, it 
appears meteor-like, but for a moment, as a graceful sweep of 
wing bears it over the fence, and its flight onward being towards 
the ground, it is wholly lost to our sight. Its boldness is ex- 
treme ; but this we almost forgive on account of its undaunted 
spirit. Many instances of this trait having been made known to 
me, the most striking shall be given, as illustrating the character 
of the species. 
A keen-sighted friend has mentioned, what, indeed, is not un- 
common with respect to the celerity of the flight of the sparrow- 
hawk ; — one sweeping closely past him towards a flock of wag- 
tails, and bearing a victim away so suddenly, that he could not 
tell whether it was seized on the ground, or on the wing. 
As remarked by Robert Evatt, Esq., Mount Louise, county 
of Monaghan : — 
“ When the flocks of linnets, chaffinches, and other little birds 
assemble of a winter evening to roost among the laurels and young 
spruce round the house, and their happy noisy chatter tells us 
what a fuss they are making about their perching-places, the 
sparrow-hawk comes through the midst of them, from some un- 
expected quarter, and scatters them like chaff before the wind. 
The first intimation of his presence is often his departure, and 
the death screech of his captive. 
“ The old birds are constantly seen darting through the woods 
after young thrushes and black-birds, then alighting on the bough 
* I have, both in Ireland and Scotland, remarked it to be comparatively scarce in 
wild and unenclosed districts, though containing abundance of wood. 
