T1IE SPAnUOW-KAWK. 
it had broken a blood-vessel. The hawk, not perceiving its 
victim was dead, still hovered about for some tune before it 
took its departure.” 
Thompson, in his “ Birds of Ireland,” introduces a note to 
the following effect : — “ The following occurrence, though not 
happening on Irish ground, was witnessed by so accurate an 
observer, William Ogilly, Esq., that I cannot resist introducing 
it here. ‘ I once,’ he remarks, £ had an opportunity, from on 
board a Bamsgate 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 facing her out to 
sea, for which purpose, instead of flying directly at the thrush, 
he kept close hi along the shore, always heading her, and thus 
effectually cutting off her retreat. This lasted for a consider- 
able 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 perching 
on the foremast. Baffled in this attempt, he retreated to 
the woods on shore.’ ” 
After so much evidence in proof of the savage and bloodthirsty 
disposition of the sparrow-hawk, it is pleasing to be able to 
record any instances of good-will and mild character in a bird 
seemingly so altogether untractable ; so much so, indeed, that 
many naturalists have denied the possibility of taming it. 
The first of such testimonies to the bird’s good character is 
made by Bishop Stanley, of whom, be it observed, no writer is 
more anxious to impress upon the reader’s mind, that all 
animals are sent us for some all-wise and beneficent purpose, 
and either deserve our sympathy or respect. To dispel the 
delusion that the hawk is, after all, so very untameable, he 
gives the following evidence : — 
“ About four years ago, a young sparrow-hawk (generally 
considered the fiercest of the whole tribe) was procured and 
brought up by a person who was fond of rearing a particular 
breed of pigeons, which he greatly prized on account of their 
rarity. By good management and kindness, he so far over- 
came the natural disposition of this hawk, that in time it 
formed a friendship with the pigeons, and associated with 
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