562 
BIRD-LIFE. 
with the hand, without perceiving the approach of its 
captor. Numbers of similar anecdotes may be related, 
for almost everyone who has observed this bird has some 
story of the sort to tell. It may be here remarked, that 
it is the female that conducts itself with such suicidal 
violence; the male is much more cautious, and far less 
rapacious. 
It is not a matter of astonishment that all small birds 
should look upon the Sparrowhawk as their greatest 
enemy, and fear it more than any other bird of prey. Its 
appearance sets them in the direst distress, and even, as 
Naumann says, drives Sparrows into mouse holes. The 
thickest of bushes is the only place where they can gain 
refuge from the deadly grasp of its cruel talons; should 
this bush be too far off they are inevitably lost. The 
Swallow, even, scarcely dares to mob this bold, unscru¬ 
pulous robber; and all other birds fly its presence as 
soon as it appears. Many birds save themselves by 
squatting close to the ground, and are thus passed 
unseen by it, though sometimes even this expedient 
fails them, and they fall a prey. Sometimes, however, it 
experiences great difficulty in overcoming its quarry. An 
instance has been known where a Goshawk has been killed 
by a Barn-door Fowl by repeated blows from its beak 
and spurs; and several others, where the Sparrowhawk 
has fared no better. Lenz relates the following story. 
“ In the neighbourhood of the Hanoverian forester’s 
house, called Sondernmhlen, a Sparrowhawk dashed 
suddenly amongst a troup of Jays, seized one, and fell 
with it to the ground; they fought savagely together, 
while the remainder of the flock took part with loud cries 
in the combat, and by blows of their beaks in some 
measure hindered the hawk in its operations. The noise 
