162 
HAWKS. 
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, but 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 
pow r ers of a Hawk to raise comparatively heavy 
weights, but is more curious, as exhibiting the cou- 
rage displayed in one of the most timid animals, in 
defence of its young. It occurred in Yorkshire. 
In the spring, a gentleman walking in the fields saw r 
a small Hawk, attempting to fly off with some prey 
it had just pounced upon, but evidently prevented 
by the weight of its capture from rising to any 
height above the ground. It was pursued by a hare, 
wdiich whenever it came within her reach, attacked 
it with her paws, and at last succeeded in knocking 
it down, when it dropped its prey. At this moment 
the gentleman ran forward, and the Hawk and its 
pursuer both made their retreat ; upon his reaching 
the spot where the prey had been dropped, he found 
it to be a fine leveret, which at once explained the 
