66 
EALCONIM. 
lence as to raise a cloud of dust. It rolled over the body several 
times, — measuring, at least, half the breadth of the road, — before 
recovering itself. It is not, therefore, surprising that this species 
should sometimes fall a victim to its temerity. On the 1 2th of 
August, 1847, an adult male was killed by flying against one of 
the windows of Belfast College, about seven o'clock in the evening. 
It was seen by some of the boys outside of the building, to strike 
against, and break the window, in pursuit of a small bird, which, 
however, by some means escaped. The porter, hearing the crash 
of glass, hurried instantly to the room, and found the hawk on 
the floor perfectly dead. The taxidermist who skinned it, looked 
particularly to ascertain the cause of death, but no injury what- 
ever was apparent, except that a globule of blood was seen 
through the skull, upon the brain: the skull itself was quite 
whole. The bird had evidently died of concussion of the brain. 
Efforts of its intended victims to escape . — Barely is there any 
possibility of escape for the poor victims. But I remember once 
being astonished at the quickness with which a flock of sparrows 
dashed into the midst of a thick hedge, on the appearance of one 
of these hawks, the swiftness of whose flight seemed as if it must 
have secured him one of them. The sparrows, however, having 
timely perceived their enemy's approach, contrived to save them- 
selves.* 
* The following occurrence, though not happening on Irish ground, was witnessed 
by so accurate an observer, Wm. Ogilby, Esq., that I cannot resist introducing it 
here : — “ I once,” he remarks (about the year 1832), “had an opportunity, from on 
board a Ramsgate steamer, of witnessing a curious pursuit of a thrush by a sparrow- 
hawk. We were off the North Foreland at the time : the thrush was, when first 
seen, a considerable way ahead of her pursuer, and making vigorous efforts to gain 
the woods which surround the seat of Mr. Alexander, near Broadstairs ; the hawk 
was evidently bent on forcing her out to sea, for which purpose, instead of flying 
directly at the thrush, he kept close in along shore, always heading her, and thus 
effectually cutting off her retreat. This lasted for a considerable time, till at length 
the thrush, wearied with flying, and probably despairing of reaching the wood, 
wheeled suddenly round, and made directly for the steamer. The hawk dashed boldly 
and rapidly after her, and was with some difficulty prevented from pouncing on his 
victim even when perched on the foremast. Baffled in this attempt, he retreated to 
the woods on shore. The thrush accompanied us for some time, and supposing the 
coast clear, at length flew off to the woods. Her enemy, who no doubt kept his eye 
on her all the time, permitted her to come within a short distance before showing 
himself ; but I had finally the mortification of seeing the poor thrush fall a victim to 
his cunning and prowess.” 
