68 
FALCONID.E. 
spite of the herons, have borne off the contents of the nest any 
time, were the prey not too bulky for his purpose. 
Mr. E. Langtry has not only observed a wild sparrow-hawk 
strike his sea eagles when perching on their sheds ; but when his 
golden eagle was on wing, has seen one of these birds strike it in 
passing, and once even witnessed the hawk's turning back and 
repeating the impertinence. 
Nest . — An ornithological friend, on climbing a tree, at the 
Falls, to one of their nests, was, when within a few yards of it, 
attacked by the female bird, and his cap, at one stroke, sent to 
the ground. He speedily followed it, lest the next stroke should 
be on his bare head ; but replacing the cap more firmly on, he 
gallantly remounted to the nest, which he had been almost daily 
in the habit of visiting, and was gratified with the sight of four 
young birds, that day hatched. The boldness of the parent was 
now accounted for. The young were described as beautiful in 
their first garb of snow-white down. Early in the month of June 
they generally make their appearance. A pair of these birds inha- 
bited a wooded glen there, in which they bred regularly for many 
years, until one of them was trapped, when its partner deserted 
the place : had this happened in the breeding season, another mate 
would doubtless have been found, that the great duty of the period 
might be proceeded with. The locality for some years from that time 
was tenanted instead by a pair of kestrels. Sparrow-hawks again 
resumed occupation, and the kestrels in consequence took their 
departure, though it might be imagined that, in an extent of wooded 
glen of fully a quarter of a mile, there would be room enough for a 
pair of each species ; but even the smaller birds of prey prefer 
to have a considerable range. When they are more numerous than 
ordinary, we may be pretty sure that their prey is likewise so : — 
the balance of nature will be kept up. Although the trees generally 
are old and large, one nest here was not more than six feet 
* A pair for many years frequented the plantations at Fort William, near 
Belfast, and though one of them was several times shot, no matter whether male 
or female fell victim, the survivor was, invariably, soon provided with another 
mate. 
