HAWKS. 
161 
its wings while fluttering, hut still so near, as to 
render it impossible for any Hawk to reach the 
Sparrow without touching the lime-twigs. The use 
of the white cloth is merely to attract the attention 
of the Hawk to the Sparrow at a greater distance. 
The lime-twigs must he placed so lightly in the 
ground, that if the Hawk, on finding himself en- 
tangled, should struggle, they would still adhere to 
his feathers, and rise with him into the air if he 
took flight, for it has been observed, and should he 
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 his feathers, for they 
become like a chain binding the wings to the body. 
Sparrow-hawks may he caught by similar means ; 
there is, indeed, a great resemblance between these 
birds in many of their habits, though the latter may 
he considered as the more shy and untractable of 
the two. When in pursuit of prey, however, they 
will not unfrequently evince great boldness. We 
knew of one which darted into an upper room, 
where a Goldfinch w r as 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 bleeding 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 
VOL. I. M 
