2 The Sparrow Flawk. 
rust-colour barred with brown. Length, twelve inches; 
breadth, twenty-four inches. ~ Female: upper parts 
blackish-brown ; lower parts light, and barred with 
brown. Length, fifteen inches; breadth, twenty-eight 
inches. Eggs light bluish-green, blotched and spotted © 
with red-brown. 
This bird was formerly used for falconry, and 
afforded that sport with partridges, quails, and 
pigeons ; while the heron and wild duck were chased 
by larger species such as the Falcon. The value of 
a well-trained Hawk was very great; and in those 
days it was the most easy as well as amusing way 
of furnishing the table with game. The Sparrow 
Hawk is a daring bird, and may be seen, when in 
search of its prey, skimming up the sides of hedges, 
flying close to the ground, and taking a short turn 
through the gap or over a stile. When an ‘object 
suited to its taste presents itself to view, death is 
the bird’s portion unless it sees the enemy coming 
and is close to a thicket, and can pop in where the 
Hawk cares not to follow. It flies with great rapidity, 
and chases its prey on the wing with a wild and de- 
termined flight: it strikes with its talons, scarcely 
ever making a miss in its aim. When the food is 
