136 
HAWKS. 
it has been observed, and should be known to bird-catchers, 
that twigs covered with bird-lime, if long and very slender, 
will stop the flight of the strongest bird, if fixed so as to 
pass off with him when touched by bis feathers, for they 
become like a chain binding the wings to the body. 
Sparrow-hawks may be caught by similar means ; there 
is, indeed, a great resemblance between these birds in many 
of their habits, though the latter may be considered as the 
more shy and untractable of the two. When in pursuit of ; 
prey, however, they will not unfrequently evince great bold- 
ness. We know of one which darted into an upper room, j 
where a Goldfinch was suspended in a cage, and it must 
have remained there some time, and continued its operations 
with great perseverance, as on the entrance of the lady to 
whom the poor bird belonged, it was found dead and bleed- 
ing at the bottom, and its feathers plentifully scattered 
about. The Kestrel is, on the other hand, rather more 
tractable, and will manifest, if not attachment, at least no 
shyness on the approach of those who feed it, particularly if 
carefully attended to. 
We have noticed several instances of Eagles carrying off 
such considerable weights as children, lambs, &c., and we 
have noticed the death of some of these larger birds by their 
imprudent attacks upon stoats, and similar small animals ; 
but the power of wing is more decidedly shown by the fact 
of so small a bird as the Kestrel, weighing only six ounces 
and a half, and having an expansion of wing of only twenty- 
seven inches, having been known to dart upon a weasel, an 
animal its equal nearly in size and weight, and actually mount 
aloft with it. As in the case of the Eagle, it suffered for its 
temerity, for it had not proceeded far when both were 
observed to fall from a considerable height. The weasel ran 
off unhurt, hut the Kestrel was found to have been killed by 
a bite in the throat. 
The following is a strong corroboration of the truth of 
the story just mentioned, as far as the powers of a Hawk to 
raise comparatively heavy weights, but is more curious, as 
exhibiting the courage displayed in one of the most timid 
