THE SPABEO W -HAWK. 
There is a vulgar supposition that this bird takes its name 
from making sparrows its peculiar prey. This, however, is 
very far from being true. Scarcely anything comes amiss to 
the bold rapacious creature. Larks and finches, partridges 
and pigeons, — even ducks and fowls, — have reason to dread 
the proximity of the sparrow-hawk. “ Hot content,” says a 
naturalist, “ with the partridges and other ferce natural, this 
bold little freebooter invades the poultry-yard. The hens 
scream ; the ducks quack, and rush to the cover of the plan- 
tation ; whilst the tame pigeons dart to and fro amongst the 
buildings, but in vain. The sparrow-hawk darts like an arrow 
after one of the latter birds, and carries, it off, though the 
pigeon is twice or three times its own weight. The woman 
who takes care of the poultry runs out, but it is too late to see 
anything more than a cloud of white feathers marking the 
place where the unfortunate pigeon was struck. Its remains 
are, however, generally found at some little distance, and when 
this is the case, the hawk is sure to be caught, as he invariably 
returns to what he has left. Sometimes he comes back the 
same day to finish picking the bones of the bird, but often 
does not return for two or three days. In the mean time, 
whatever part of the pigeon he has left is pegged to the 
ground, and two or three rat-traps are set round it, into one of 
which he always contrives to step. Yfhen caught, instead of 
seeming frightened, he flies courageously at the hand put 
down to pick him up, and fights, with beak and talons, to 
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