SPARROW HAWK . — Accipiter Nisus. 
The Sparrow Hawk is a well 
known English bird, though like 
other beasts and birds of prey, 
it becomes more scarce as land is 
more cultivated. 
Although the Sparrow Hawk 
inhabits England in great num- 
bers, it is not so often seen as 
might be imagined, for it is 
a most wild, shy, and wary 
bird, and never ventures near 
human dwellings, or within a 
considerable distance of human 
beings, unless urged by hunger 
or carried away by the ardour of 
pursuit. €*As a general rule, to get 
within gunshot of a Sparrow Hawk 
is no easy matter; but if the Hawk 
be watched as he is hovering 
about a flock of sparrows or other 
small birds, he may be approached 
without much difficulty, his entire 
attention being engaged on his 
expected prey. Indeed, while 
engaged in the chase, the ardour 
of this bird is so great, that all its 
faculties seem to be absorbed in 
the ruling passion, and it is 
evidently unmindful of anything 
but its flying prey t A Sparrow 
Hawk has been known to dash 
furiously at a man who endea- 
voured to rescue a small bird which 
it had attacked. The courage of the Sparrow Hawk is of the most reckless 
character, for the bird will fly unhesitatingly at almost any other inhabitant of 
air, no matter what its size may be. In consequence of the headlong courage 
possessed by this handsome little Ha w k, it is very valuable to the falconer if 
properly trained, for it will dash at any quarry which may be pointed out to it. 
Unfortunately, however, the Sparrow Ilawk is one of the most difficult and 
refractory of pupils, slow at receiving a lesson and quick at forgetting if. 
PA 
